HC Deb 22 December 1927 vol 212 cc561-3
22. Mr. W. THORNE

asked the, Minister of Labour the number of people on the live register of the Employment Exchanges for the months ended May and November, 1927, respectively; and the net amount of reduction in wages for the first 11 months of this year?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)

The number of persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 28th November, 1927, was 1,145,230, as compared with 985,513 at 30th May, 1927. In the industries for which statistics are compiled by the Ministry of Labour, the changes in rates of wages reported during the first 11 months of 1927 resulted in a net reduction of £383,350 in the weekly full-time wages of 1,857,000 workpeople, and in a net increase of £29,850 in those of 276,000, the net effect of all the changes being a reduction of £353,500. These figures relate mainly, though not exclusively, to organised groups of wage-earners, and they do not include the effects of changes in the wages of agricultural labourers, domestic servants, police, shop assistants, clerks or Government employés, as to whom complete statistics are not available.

Mr. THORNE

Do I understand that there were more than 100,000 men and women on the live register at the end of November than there were in May, and, if that be so, what becomes of the recent report that was made by the President of the Board of Trade?

Mr. BETTERTON

The observations of my right hon. Friend are not in the least inconsistent with the figures that I have given. As is well known to the hon. Member, the figures always increase from seasonal causes in the winter.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Can the hon. Gentleman say why, a week or a fortnight ago, these figures have decreased for the first time in several years, seeing that at this time of year they increase rather than decrease?

Mr. BETTERTON

The numbers always increase, and always have increased ever since I have had any knowledge of the matter, during the winter months. The peak always comes about April, May or June.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is it not the fact that, towards the end of November and the beginning of December, owing to seasonal reasons, unemployment usually increases considerably, and why is it that this year, of all years, should show an exception the other way?

Mr. BETTERTON

No, Sir; I think it is perfectly plain that the numbers of people unemployed usually diminish just before Christmas, as, indeed, they have done this year. They are down by more than 24,000 this week. But, taking the aggregate, it will always be found that the figures are greater in the winter months than they are in, say, May or June.

Mr. LAWSON

Has the Ministry of Labour no intention of trying to get a full record of the increases or reductions in the figures at the present time?

Mr. BETTERTON

If the hon. Member refers to agricultural labourers, domestic servants, and shop assistants, I am afraid that we have not any statistics, and I am not at all sure that we could get them.

Mr. LAWSON

I am speaking about those in other large industries, too. Has the Ministry no means of getting a record of reductions and increases, so that we may have something like a real idea of what is taking place?

Mr. BETTERTON

I think the figures I have given are comprehensive, except that they do not include the limited classes to which I have referred, and with respect to whom we have no available statistics. I think that, with the exception of these limited classes, the figures are comprehensive.

Mr. LAWSON

Would it not be true to say that changes in wages at the present time, and particularly reductions, are taking place on a very large scale in industries which are never recorded at all?

Mr. BETTERTON

As regards the industries which are not recorded, I cannot, of course, answer one way or the other. The reductions to which I have referred are in some cases, as the hon. Member knows, due to agreements which provide for a reduction or increase depending upon the cost of living, and that accounts for some of the changes. In other agreements, the wages depend upon the selling price of the commodities produced, and that may also have a bearing.