§ 10. Mr. H. WILLIAMS (for Mr. HANNON)asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the extent to which the unemployment insurance fund is now indebted to the Treasury; and the estimated amount of such indebtedness due to the general strike and the coal stoppage since the 1st May of the current year?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe debt of the Unemployment Fund to the Treasury on 6th November, 1926, was £19,300,000. It is impossible to say precisely how much of the indebtedness is due to the general strike and the coal stoppage. On 1st May the figure was £7,336,000, or slightly less than the total on 16th January. As the figure for unemployment was still falling, it is reasonable to suppose that the indebtedness would have been further reduced had no industrial dispute occurred.