HC Deb 14 November 1928 vol 222 cc883-4
44. Commander BELLAIRS

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the numbers actually at work at the end of June in 1925 and 1928, respectively, in silk and artificial silk lace, motor vehicles, and musical instrument trades?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The following are the estimated numbers of insured persons in Great Britain aged 16 to 64 less the numbers unemployed:

Industry. End of June 1925. End of June 1928.
Silk and Artificial Silk 42,700 66,364
Lace 15,200 15,818
Manufacture and repair of Motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft. 199,000 214,398
Musical Instruments 19,700 24,340
The figures include in each set of cases persons not at work owing to sickness, etc., but this does not materially affect the comparison.

Mr. KELLY

Is it now the position of the Minister of Labour that he has altered his method of obtaining these statistics in order to give us these figures, seeing that last year he stated that they were not got out in this form?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I asked my Department if the figures were available, and they gave me these. In other industries which are subject to duties on which there is no countervailing excise, the figures are not so kept. If the hon. Member will call my attention to any discrepancy, I will look into it.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the export figures for the same industry?

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