§ 9. Mr. DOUGLAS HACKINGasked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women classified as belonging to the cotton industry on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the 57 principal cotton trade centres at the latest convenient date; and how these figures compare with those at the corresponding dates in 1929 and 1928?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAs the answer contains a number of figures I will circulate it, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HACKINGCan the right hon. Lady say whether there has been a big increase?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI should have to read it; it is really rather long.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The number of men and women classified as belonging to the cotton industry on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the 57 principal cotton trade centres at 24th February, 1930, was 105,380, of whom 38,609 were wholly unemployed and 66,771 temporarily stopped. The corresponding total at 25th February, 1929, was 45,633, of whom 17,500 were wholly unemployed and 28,133 temporarily stopped, and at 20th February, 1928, it was 34,767, of whom 12,343 were wholly unemployed and 22,424 temporarily stopped.