§ 42. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour how many mine workers were registered as unemployed on the last convenient date, and will he give the figures for the same date in 1925 and 1926?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe number of persons classified as belonging to the coal-mining industry who were recorded as unemployed on 24th January, 1927, was 200,476. The corresponding figure for 25th January, 1926, was 125,669 and for 26th January, 1925, 100,061.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHave the hon. Gentleman's Department or the Government taken any steps to provide useful work for these 200,000 miners out of work?
§ Mr. BETTERTONWe are doing our best to provide for everybody out of work. That, of course, involves a statement of policy, and I cannot give an answer.
Mr. WILLAMSWill the hon. Gentleman tell the House exactly what the Government have done to find these men work since the Eight Hours Act was passed?