HC Deb 16 June 1927 vol 207 cc1163-4
23. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Minister of Health if he is now in a position to state, for the latest available date, the number of persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation, and their dependants, who were in receipt of poor relief on ground of unemployment; how many of these were unemployed persons; and how many of the latter were registered at the Employment Exchanges?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

On the 1st January last the total number of men, women and children in receipt of domiciliary Poor Law relief in England and Wales on account of unemployment was approximately 632,000. Of these approximately 183,800 were men or women ordinarily engaged in a regular occupation but unemployed at that date. It is estimated that, or these 183,800 persons, approximately 149,000 were registered at the Employment Exchanges.

Mr. WILLIAMS

May I ask whether that means that all but about 30,000 of those who receive Poor Law relief were in fact registered at the Employment Exchanges and included in the live register?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

No, it means that all but 30,000 of those ordinarily engaged in regular occupations were unemployed at that time.