§ 32. Mr. HARRISasked the Minister of Labour bow the percentage of unemployment is arrived at for the borough of Poplar; and whether it will be possible to apply the same method of arriving at the figures for the borough of Bethnal Green, so that advantage may be taken of the facilities provided by the Unemployment Grants Committee?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe percentage of unemployment in Poplar or any other London borough can only be given on an estimated basis. An estimate of the number unemployed in Bethnal Green was given in the reply to the hon. Member for the North East Division of Bethnal Green (Mr. Windsor) on 7th February; the number then given probably represents a rate of unemployment of 7.7 per cent. at 28th January last.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that percentage was arrived at by lumping Hackney, Shoreditch and Stepney with Bethnal Green and the percentage in other boroughs being very much lower, Bethnal Green is deprived of the advantage of the Unemployment Grants Committee's facilities, which go to other areas which are classified as depressed?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am not sure how far that is the case, but I will look into it again and communicate with the hon. Member, or perhaps he will communicate with me.