§ 5. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Labour how many persons are now registered as unemployed; if he has any estimate of the number of persons working short time: and if he has any estimate of the number of persons unemployed who have been struck off the live registers but have not yet obtained work?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)The number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 16th April, 1928, was 1,073,500, but I am unable to say how many are working short time. It is not the practice to strike unemployed persons off the register provided they continue to attend at Employment Exchanges as applicants for work.
§ Mr. BATEYIs it not a fact that unemployed men have been struck off the live register, and cannot the hon. Gentleman agree that an inquiry would be useful to ascertain how many men have been struck off?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIt is impossible to give any estimate of the number of unemployed persons struck off. The answer which I have given says that we do not strike unemployed persons off the register provided they continue to attend the Employment Exchanges.
§ Mr. KELLYDoes the total of 1,073,000 contain the figures of those who are on what is known as the two months' file?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThey contain the number of persons registered on the 16th April.
§ Mr. KELLYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in these Exchanges there is what is known as the two months' file? Do these figures represent those whose names are in that two months' file.
§ Mr. BETTERTONI speak from recollection, but I think contain all the numbers except- those who are on the two months' file.
§ Mr. KELLYAre we to understand that there are a hi: of men who are still unemployed and still on the live register who are not drawing unemployment pay?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat is an entirely different point. The question asked is as to the number of persons on the register who are applicant, for work. Those in receipt of benefit are, of course, an entirely different number.
§ 6. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the number of boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16 who registered at the Walworth Road, Borough, Employment Ex- 165 change for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the number of these who have been found employment?
§ Mr. BETTERTONI am unable to give separate figures for juveniles of 14 to 16 years. In the case of juveniles of 14 and under 18 years, the average numbers on the register during the 12 months ended 26th March, 1928, were 176 boys and 223 girls, and the total numbers of vacancies filled in the 12 months were 3,133 by boys and 2,974 by girls.
§ Mr. KELLYCan the hon. Gentleman say whether those figures contain any of the boys and girls who have been on the register for more than six months?
§ Mr. BETTERTONPerhaps the hon. Member will put that question down, as I cannot say without notice.