§ 54. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour whether his Department have prepared an estimate of the number of unemployed in the cotton textile trade, with the cost to the industry?
§ Mr. BETTERTONAt 26th November, 1928, the number of insured persons classified as belonging to the cotton textile industry and recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 69,562, of whom 33,025 were wholly unemployed and 36,537 were temporarily stopped. I do not know what the hon. Member means by the cost to the industry. If he will tell me more precisely what information he wants I will see whether it is available.
§ Mr. KELLYCan the hon. Gentleman state what is the cost to the industry of the payment of unemployment insurance?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat is not what I understood the hon. Member to mean. If that is what he means, I think I can give him the information.
§ Mr. KELLYWill the Parliamentary Secretary also include in his answer the cost of interest which has to be paid to the Treasury for the loans connected with insurance.
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf the hon. Member will put down another question stating exactly the information he requires, I will endeavour to give it to him.