26 and 27. Mr. BECKETTasked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of people registered as unemployed at the Gateshead Employment Exchange on 1st February, 1927 and 1928, respectively;
(2) the number of unemployed persons in receipt of unemployment benefit at the Gateshead Employment Exchange on 1st February, 1927 and 1928, respectively?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe number of persons on the registers of the Gateshead Employment Exchange at 30th January, 1928, was 8,746 as compared with 11,522 at 31st January, 1927. Statistics are not available regarding the number of these persons actually in receipt of unemployment benefit, but the number of persons with claims to benefit current was 6,660 at 30th January, 1928, and 9,819 at 31st January, 1927.
Mr. BECKETTWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by people with claims to benefit current, as distinct from people in receipt of benefit?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThose who are making claims to benefit, some of whom are in receipt of benefit, and some of whom are in course of being adjudicated on. I can give further information on this matter to the hon. Gentleman if he will communicate with me. The figure which I have given is the nearest to that asked for.