HC Deb 09 May 1928 vol 217 cc204-8
15. Sir R. THOMAS

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give a Return showing, for every month from 1920 to the latest available date, the numbers of men employed in shipbuilding and repairing yards and in marine engineering shops, respectively?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)

Comparable statistics in respect of individual industries are only available from June, 1923, and I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the information which is available from that date. The total number of insured persons in particular industries can only be estimated once a year from information derived from the exchange of unemployment books in July and monthly figures are, therefore, not available.

Sir R. THOMAS

Will the hon. Gentleman circulate separately the estimates for the repairing shops and the engineering works?

Mr. BETTERTON

The hon. Member had better look through the very elaborate table which I am circulating, and if it does not meet all his requirements, perhaps he will acquaint me with the fact.

Mr. KELLY

Are the marine engineering shops given separately from the shipbuliding yards and repairing yards?

Mr. BETTERTON

No, Sir, they are not.

Commander WILLIAMS

Could not the hon. Gentleman give us a summary of these figures, which would be very interesting to Members in all parts of the House?

MEN INSURED under the UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACTS classified as belonging to the Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing, and Marine Engineering Industries in Great Britain.
— Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing. Marine Engineering.
Estimated Number of Insured Men. Number of Insured Men Unemployed. Estimated Number of Insured Men. Number of Insured Men Unemployed.
1923.
25th June … 231,400 110,436 55,900 13,872
23rd July … … 108,980 … 14,623
27th August … … 111,609 … 14,407
24th September … … 109,963 … 16,338
22nd October … … 108,054 … 16,962
26th November … … 103,456 … 15,788
31st December … … 85,468 … 14,033
1924.
28th January … … 78,930 … 12,788
25th February … … 72,443 … 11,267
24th March … … 68,158 … 10,164
28th April … … 70,064 … 10,024
26th May … … 64,882 … 9,025
23rd June … 219,300 63,528 56,600 8,502
28th July … … 61,625 … 9,211
25th August … … 66,176 … 9,293
22nd September … … 67,349 … 9,591
27th October … … 69,897 … 10,092
24th November … … 71,325 … 10,066
22nd December … … 72,088 … 10,049
1925.
26th January … … 71,823 … 9,744
23rd February … … 75,025 … 10,066
23rd March … … 75,227 … 10,941
27th April … … 70,981 … 10,797
25th May … … 71,988 … 10,976
22nd June … 208,500 75,426 51,600 11,482
27th July … … 76,258 … 11,975
24th August … … 77,415 … 12,525
21st September … … 78,153 … 12,643
26th October … … 81,324 … 14,053
23rd November … … 82,839 … 14,194
21st December … … 81,106 … 13,772
Mr. BETTERTON

The table is a very long and elaborate one, and I think it would be better if my hon. and gallant Friend were to look at it when it is circulated and see for himself whether he thinks that any further information is required. It would be difficult to summarise it.

Captain CROOKSHANK

Does it show whether employment is getting better or not?

Mr. BETTERTON

There is another question on that point.

Following is the statement:

— Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing. Marine Engineering.
Estimated Number of Insured Men. Number of Insured Men Unemployed. Estimated Number of Insured Men. Number of Insured Men Unemployed.
Wholly Unemployed. Temporarily Stopped. Total. Wholly Unemployed. Temporarily Stopped. Total.
1926.
25th January … 78,574 2,318 80,892 … 12,448 670 13,118
22nd February … 76,926 2,091 79,017 … 12,304 595 12,899
22nd March … 79,397 1,571 80,968 … 12,686 588 13,274
26th April … 74,830 1,552 76,382 … 11,616 557 12,173
24th May … 80,863 3,644 84,507 … 13,380 942 14,322
21st June 196,000 83,677 3,035 86,712 49,000 13,665 1,262 14,927
26th July … 81,961 3,172 85,133 … 13,379 1,248 14,627
23rd August … 86,532 3,040 89,572 … 14,026 1,133 15,159
20th September … 88,056 3,257 91,313 … 13,895 1,290 15,185
25th October … 91,688 3,744 95,432 … 14,263 1,697 15,960
22nd November … 90,570 3,764 94,334 … 14,074 1,863 15,937
20th December … 84,081 2,938 87,019 … 12,620 1,273 13,893
1927.
24th January … 74,125 1,586 75,711 … 11,587 546 12,133
21st February … 64,140 1,307 65,447 … 10,004 647 10,651
21st March … 58,657 965 59,622 … 8,682 418 9,100
25th April … 52,272 920 53,192 … 7 988 318 8,306
23rd May … 46,091 1,184 47,275 … 7,109 350 7,459
20th June 190,730 45,848 1,149 46,997 48,030 6 582 323 6,905
25th July … 43,202 1,137 44,339 … 6,048 221 6,269
22nd August … 43,446 1,543 44,989 … 6,039 270 6,309
26th September … 42,271 1,531 43,802 … 5,985 368 6,353
24th October … 40,257 1,521 41,778 … 5,886 256 6,142
21st November … 40,972 1,904 42,876 … 5,264 268 5,532
19th December … 39,796 1,867 41,663 … 5,322 278 5,600
1928.
23rd January … 36,014 1,678 37,692 … 4,840 240 5,080
20th February … 37,021 1,655 38,676 … 4,898 406 5,304
26th March … 39,806 1,957 41,763 … 4,891 415 5,306
23. Mr. KELLY

asked the Minister of Labour what change in wages or working conditions has taken place in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing trade within the last six months?

Mr. BETTERTON

There has been no general change in the wages and working conditions in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry. The only change in working conditions reported during the past six months has been the adoption of revised agreed working rules for ship-repairing on the Bristol Channel, involving alterations in the overtime rates of pay, allowances for dirty work and for certain other specified tasks.

Mr. KELLY

May I ask whether within recent months the hon. Gentleman has had any representations from either the employers or the operatives in the industry in favour of the adoption of the Washington Convention for the purpose of making the eight hours' day operative in other countries?

Mr. BETTERTON

I must ask for notice of that question.