§ 5. Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. LAMBERT WARDasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in Hull on the 2nd April, 1930; and the number on the corresponding date last year?
§ 9. Captain RONALD HENDERSONasked the Minister of Labour the increase or decrease in the number of persons unemployed in the Bolton district for last week as compared with the same week of last year?
§ 11. Captain BOURNEasked the Minister of Labour the increase or decrease in 2332 the number of persons unemployed in the Blackburn district for last week as compared with the same week of last year?
12. Marquess of HARTINGTONasked the Minister of Labour the increase or decrease in the number of persons unemployed in the Sheffield district for last week as compared with the same week of last year?
§ 17. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Minister of Labour the increase or decrease in the number of persons unemployed in the Manchester district for last meek as compared with the same week of last year?
§ 18. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the Minister of Labour the increase or decrease in the number of persons unemployed in the Bradford district for last week as compared with the same week of last year?
§ 22. Captain EDENasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the city of Coventry at the most recent date for which figures are available and the number at the corresponding date last year?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAt 31st March, 1930, there were 16,716 persons on the registers of the Hull Employment Exchange, as compared with 13,114 at 25th March, 1929.
Similar information with regard to other areas is asked for in Questions Nos. 9, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 21, and, as they involve a series of figures, I propose, if I may, to circulate the replies to them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir A. LAMBERT WARDIn view of the very serious increase of the unemployment figures in Hull, will the right hon. Lady use her influence with the Lord Privy Seal to grant a somewhat more generous contribution towards the schemes which have been put forward by those localities?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI will certainly pass on that suggestion to my right hon. Friend.
§ Captain EDENDo the figures for which I ask in my question No. 22 show an increase, and, if so, of how much?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes, in each case they show an increase.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWith regard to the answer as it relates to Question No. 12, which refers to the Sheffield district, did not the petition which was presented just now show that there was less unemployment in that district?
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs the right hon. Lady aware that one of the main reasons for the increased unemployment in all these districts is the presence of a Socialist Government in this country?
§ Following are the replies:
§ 9.—At 31st March, 1930, the number of persons on the registers of the Bolton Employment Exchange showed an increase of 8,742 as compared with 25th March, 1929.
§ 11.—At 31st March, 1930, the number of persons on the registers of the Blackburn Employment Exchange showed an increase of 12,689 as compared with 25th March, 1929.
§ 12.—At 31st March; 1930, the number of persons on the registers of the Sheffield and Attercliffe Employment Exchanges showed an increase of 10,450 as compared with 25th March, 1929.
§ 17.—At 31st March, 1930, the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Manchester area showed an increase of 16,258 as compared with 25th March, 1929.
§ 18.—At 31st March, 1930, the number of persons on the registers of the Bradford Employment Exchange showed an increase of 9,764 as compared with 25th March, 1929.
§ 22.—At 31st March, 1930, there were 5,616 persons on the registers of the Coventry Employment Exchange, as compared with 1,761 on 25th March, 1929.
§ Sir B. FALLEI beg to ask the right hon. Lady question number 18.
§ Miss BONDFIELDThat question was answered in the group.
§ Sir ASSHETON POWNALLOn a point of Order. ft is usual, when there is a mass of figures in reply to one question, for the Minister to say that they will be circulated. In this case they are separate, and there is only one figure in each case. I submit that the right hon. Lady ought to have replied to each question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Lady may reply to questions in the way she thinks fit; it is not for me to dictate to her in that matter.
§ Sir B. FALLEI did not understand that my question was included, and I have had no answer.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSThe Minister usually says, "With the consent of the hon. Member, I will answer so-and-so." Supposing that the hon. Member does not give his consent and wishes to have a separate answer, is he not entitled to his rights?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIn that case, if the hon. Member is not satisfied, he can put the question down again.
§ 23. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Labour what number of intimations of vacancies have been received at Employment Exchanges in the present year; and what number have been filled by persons sent on from the Exchanges?
§ Miss BONDFIELDDuring the 13 weeks ended 31st March, 1930, 452,428 vacancies were notified to, and 401,991 were filled by, Employment Exchanges in Great Britain.