§ 2. Mr. CECIL WILSONasked the Minister of Labour whether any statistics are collected which would indicate the number of persons displaced owing to the introduction of improved machinery or devices; and, if not, whether she will consider the possibility of such statistics being collected?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe question of collecting statistics of this kind is being carefully considered; it has not been found practicable to obtain comprehensive and reliable figures on the subject, but we are following up such facts as come to our notice.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURWill ally returns of that kind include schemes for which grants have been given by the Unemployment Grants Committee?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThis is a question of the displacement of particular persons by machinery.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURAs there are schemes for which grants are given, where such displacement of labour takes place, will these be included?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes.
§ Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDWill the information which the Minister of Labour is trying to collect include the reabsorption of such persons either in the same industry or in other industries?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThat is what I am trying to do.