HC Deb 06 March 1930 vol 236 cc616-7
7. Mr. DOUGLAS HACKING

asked the Minister of Labour the number of male and female cotton operatives in the spinning and weaving sections who were registered as unemployed at the latest convenient date?

Miss BONDFIELD

As the reply consists of a Table of figures, I will circulate a statement, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. HACKING

Will the right hon. Lady say if there is a larger number of unemployed in the cotton industry to-day than ever before under similar circumstances?

Miss BONDFIELD

I shall have to have notice of that question.

Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLAND

Will the right hon. Lady Dost in the smoking room—

Lieut. - Commander KENW0RTHY

The tea-room.

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

—in the tea-room, a diagram, which I know exists, showing the position of the unemployment figure as between different trades and in different towns?

Miss BONDFIELD

Certainly; there is such a diagram in existence.

Mr. HACKING

If the right hon. Lady finds that what I say is correct, will she impress on the Chancellor of the Exchequer the necessity of instituting a policy of Safeguarding?

Following is the statement:

MEN and WOMEN classified as belonging to the COTTON INDUSTRY on the Registers of Employment Exchanges in the 57 principal cotton trade centres at 27th January, 1930.
Department. Wholly unemployed. Temporarily stopped. Totals.
Men. Women. Total. Men. Women. Total.
Card and Blowing Room 915 5,352 6,267 1,299 6,876 8,175 14,442
Spinning 5,267 4,396 9,663 8,458 6,901 15,359 25,022
Beaming, Winding and Warping. 942 4,301 5,243 2,101 11,464 13,565 18,808
Weaving 2,831 9,247 12,078 3,167 10,140 13,307 25,385
Other processes 644 200 844 389 331 720 1,564
Total 10,599 23,496 34,095 15,414 35,712 51,126 85,221