§ 4. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour how much is now being paid weekly in benefit to married women; and what was the corresponding figure a year ago?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAt mid-October, 1930, the amount of unemployment benefit paid to married women weekly was about £159,500. The corresponding figure a year previously was about £50,000.
§ Sir A. POWNALLDoes not this remarkable increase—a three-fold increase —bear out the anxiety expressed by the Government Actuary
§ Mr. SPEAKERMajor Glyn.
10 and 11. Viscountess ASTORasked the Minister of Labour (1) what schemes are at present in operation for the provision of work for unemployed women; and how many women have been provided with work under such schemes in the past year;
(2) whether she is considering any proposals to provide relief work for unemployed women?
§ 17. Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Minister of Labour how many women have been given employment under schemes of work initiated by the Government during the past year?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI would refer the Noble Lady and the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave last Thursday to the hon. Member for Lanark, North (Miss Lee).
§ 19. Sir A. POWNALLasked the Minister of Labour what is the number of married women drawing transitional benefit; and what was the number a year ago?
§ Miss BONDFIELDAt 7th July, 1930, the latest date for which figures are available, it is estimated that there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain approximately 35,090 married women with claims to transitional benefit authorised, as compared with 6,630 at 14th October, 1929.
§ Sir A. POWNALLCan the right hon. Lady say why these figures have increased six-fold in the last few months?
Viscountess ASTORIs it not true that a large proportion of the increase in the number of married women drawing unemployment benefit is in the cotton in- 1826 dustry; and have not the married women done as much to build up the cotton industry as men?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is quite true that the increase is very largely in the cotton industry, where it is the custom to employ married women. In addition, there has been an increase in the number entitled to benefit as a result of the Act of 1930.
§ 38. Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Minister of Labour the percentage of increase in the registered unemployment from February to May, 1930, of women claimants for transitional benefit, distinguishing married and single women?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI am having these figures taken out and will publish a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.