§ 38. Captain WATERHOUSEasked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the fact that an employé who works only three and a-half days a week would not be shown as under-employed, figures more adequately representing the under-employment position in the textile trade could be published in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette"?
§ Mr. BETTERTONStatistics of under-employment in a particular industry other than those derived from the working of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme, can only be obtained by means of special returns voluntarily rendered by the industry. Summaries of such returns for certain industries, including cotton and wool textiles, are published monthly in the "Ministry of Labour Gazette."
§ Mr. PALINGDo we understand that in all cases where 3½ days a week has been worked these returns are not showing them as under-employed?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNo. It is quite true that these returns do not in every case show all the short time worked, but the hon. Member knows that it depends entirely on how the time worked is spread out—whether it is three days or over in the six—whether they are returned for short time or not.
§ Captain WATERHOUSEIn view of the importance of accurate figures in the case of applications for safeguarding, will my hon. Friend see whether he cannot get clearer figures published in the Labour Gazette, especially as these figures are vitiated owing to the sharing out of work, which is of real advantage to this industry?
§ Mr. BETTERTONIf my hon. and gallant Friend thinks that there is a real 1869 demand for further figures to be obtained from the manufacturers, I will endeavour to get them.
§ Captain WATERHOUSEIs my hon. Friend not aware that it is now too late for this particular industry?