§ 2. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who made application for unemployment pay for the last week in September, 1929; and will she give comparable figures for 1928 and particulars with reference to the number of persons who had the right of unemployment pay refused during the same period for any reason?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the week ended 30th September, 1929, 185,428 fresh and renewal claims to unemployment benefit were made at employment exchanges in Great Britain as compared with 209,157 in the week ended 1st October, 1928. I am unable to give statistics of the disallowances of claims to benefit 296 for these periods. These statistics are compiled for monthly periods and are published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.
§ 3. Captain Sir GEORGE BOWYERasked the Minister of Labour how many more unemployed there are than when the present Government was formed?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe number of persons on the live registers of the employment exchanges on 21st October was 102,000 more than on 10th June. The corresponding increase last year between 11th June and 22nd October was 194,000.
§ Sir G. BOWYERMay I ask the right hon. Lady when, in accordance with their election promises, the Socialist Government are going to reduce unemployment?
Viscountess ASTORMay I ask the right hon. Lady whether the unemployed are given the full maintenance which they were promised?
§ 13. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Labour on what data her Department bases its weekly statement of numbers of people employed?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThis statement is not a weekly one. It is published once a month. The method of computing the figures is explained in detail on page 357 of the issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for the current month, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.