§ 31. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of insured workpeople in the silk and artificial silk industries who were in employment at the beginning of July, 1925, and at the beginning of November, 1926, respectively;
(2) the number of insured workpeople in the musical instrument manufacturing industry who were in employment at the beginning of July, 1925, and at the beginning of November, 1926, respectively?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThere are no statistics available as to the numbers of persons actually in employment at the dates mentioned. At 5th July, 1926, the estimated number of insured persons in Great Britain in the silk and artificial silk industries was 51,210, and in the musical instrument-making industry, 24,500, as compared with 46,890 and 21,590, respectively, at 6th July, 1925. At 26th October, 1926, the numbers recorded as unemployed were 5,268 in the silk and artificial silk industry, and 1,503 in the musical instrument-making industry, as compared with 2,956 and 1,266, respectively at 22nd June, 1925.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIn view of the fact that the Volume of employment in these industries was greater at the end than at the beginning of this period, does the right hon. Gentleman attribute that to the effect of the Safeguarding Duties?
§ Mr. KELLYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these who are classified as employed in the silk and artificial silk industry in 1926 were then engaged in the chemical industry?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe hon. Member will see that I have put my answer very carefully. I have not given the percentage, and I have not done so on purpose lest it might mislead hon. Members. You cannot always assume that those who were in the industry on the 5th July, 1926, are still in it a year after; therefore, you cannot simply take percentages and judge from them. One has to take the best inference one can.