HC Deb 18 March 1930 vol 236 cc1882-4
5. Captain MAC DONALD

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what has been the course of employment and output since October, 1929, in the leather glove, fabric glove, silk, artificial silk, cutlery, hollow-ware, and motor-car industries?

Mr. W. R. SMITH

All the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks is not available, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT such particulars as I have regarding employment and output since October, 1929, in the industries mentioned. The data in respect of hollow-ware are not yet available, but they will be sent to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as they are received.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL

Would it not be a great deal better to have this information circulated; and is the hon. Gentleman aware that I put down a question last week asking for certain information which is wanted in regard to these tariffs, and we were told that we could not have it; and may I suggest that it would be a great deal better if the facts were made public?

Sir HERBERT SAMUEL

Will the hon. Gentleman give information with regard to the other safeguarded industries at the same time?

Mr. SMITH

I shall be pleased to give any information that is asked for.

Following is the information:

Motor Cars.

Production.—Monthly data are not available.

Employment.—Motor Vehicles, Cycles and Aircraft (Construction and Repair) Trades (Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

Number of insured workers at July 1929 (ages 16–64) 245,410

Number recorded as unemployed.
— Wholly unemployed (including Casuals). Temporary Stoppages. Total.
1929—
October 21st … … … … 15,185 4,524 19,709
November 25th … … … … 15,068 2,839 17,907
December 16th … … … … 14,891 2,926 17,817
1930—
January 27th … … … … 16,017 2,948 18,965
February 24th … … … … 17,208 4,805 22,013
Silk and Artificial Silk.
Production, etc., Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Month. Silk* (Deliveries for Home Consumption). Artificial Silk (Production of Yarn and Waste).
1929— Thousand lbs. Thousand lbs.
October … … … … … 287.9 5,781.4
November … … … … … 299.1 5,418.3
December … … … … … 219.5 3,983.7
1930—
January … … … … … 304.9 4,882.1
* The silk content of the cocoons and waste has been estimated at one-third of their full-weights.

Employment.

Silk and Artificial Silk Trades (Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

Number of Insured Workers at July, 1929 (ages 16–64) 73,860
Number recorded as Unemployed.
— Wholly unemployed (including casuals). Temporary Stoppages. Total.
1929—
October 21st … … … … 4,240 2,768 7,008
November 25th … … … … 4,170 4,677 8,847
December 16th … … … … 4,461 5,414 9,875
1930—
January 27th … … … … 5,086 9,097 14,183
February 24th … … … … 5,520 11,031 16,551
Cutlery.—No information regarding production and employment is available.