HC Deb 01 May 1929 vol 227 cc1537-9
13. Mr. ROBINSON

asked the Minister of Labour the number of young persons, male and female, under the age of 20 who are unemployed and the number receiving training; and the number that have been transferred from their home district to other parts of Britain monthly since January, 1928?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

At 22nd April, 1929, there were 99,689 males and 64,752 females under 21 years of age on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. Corresponding statistics of the numbers under 20 years of age are not available. At the most recent dates for which statistics are available there were 6,237 males and 2,010 females under 21 years of age attending training centres, including Juvenile Unemployment Centres, in Great Britain. I regret that figures are not available regarding the total number in the same age group who have been transferred from one district to another.

Mr. LAWSON

If it is the case, as stated by the Prime Minister, that all these young people can have training, why is it that such a small proportion are being trained?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

When it is a case of young persons up to the age of 16 years, or a year or so above, there is provision for them in the Juvenile Unemployment Centres, but I have never made any statement about the age being continued up to 21 years.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in one of his recent speeches the Prime Minister made a declaration to the effect that all young persons could now secure training before they were 21 years of age, and, in view of the fact that less than 4 per cent. of young persons are being trained, will he ask the Prime Minister to reconsider the statement and correct it?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

I will consult my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister about anything, but I do not necessarily accept the inference which is being drawn by hon. Members opposite.

16. Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered at Employment Exchanges for the months of January, February, and March, 1926?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. THORNE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures are over and above one million?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

In no case are they over one million for men or women separately, but for men and women taken together they are over a million during the greater part of the period.

Mr. THORNE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Saturday night at Seven-oaks stated that in the early part of 1926 there were less than one million men and women unemployed? Was he not deceiving the people?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The hon. Member should ask me for figures on a particular date. I cannot give him the figures with regard to a reference which he quotes from memory from some speech made by a Member of this House. If he asks whether at any date in 1926 there were under a million men and women unemployed, the answer is "yes."

Mr. THORNE

Is the Minister of Labour not aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated quite definitely on Saturday night that in the early part of 1926 there were less than a million men and women unemployed?

Mr. SPEAKER

That question does not arise.

Colonel HOWARD-BURY

rose—

Mr. SPEAKER

We have had quite enough supplementaries on this question.

Following is the statement:

The following TABLE shows the numbers of Men and Women respectively on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain on each Monday of January, February and March, 1926.

Date. Men. Women.
1926.
4th January 990,726 193,699
11th January 956,194 193,587
18th January 955,470 189,083
25th January 942,208 187,060
1st February 917,351 187,364
8th February 909,346 186,945
15th February 893,628 179,730
22nd February 883,769 177,801
1st March 872,055 173,153
8th March 863,470 170,869
15th March 847,075 166,622
22nd March 824,371 160,452
29th March 804,783 157,131