§ 22. Mr. COMPTONasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the numbers of unemployed persons registered at the Employment Exchanges in England, Scotland and Wales on 31st December, 1924, 1925 and 1926, and the amounts paid in benefits during the last week of the above-named years, respectively?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDAs the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at dates nearest 31st December in the last three years for which figures are available:
| Area | 22nd December, 1924. | 21st December, 1925. | 24th December, 1926. |
| England | 909,601 | 824,963 | 1,017,848 |
| Scotland | 171,922 | 194,895 | 202,670 |
| Wales | 87,704 | 82,542 | 130,527 |
| Great Britain. | 1,169,227 | 1,102,400 | 1,351,045 |
§ The amounts of benefit paid were approximately as follows:—
- For the week ending 26th December, 1924—£889,000.
- For the week ending 24th December, 1925—£810,000.
- For the week ending 24th December, 1926—£931,000.