§ 3. Captain BOURNEasked the Minister of Labour if she can give the estimated number of persons in employment on 1st April, 1931, or on the nearest convenient date, and the corresponding figures for 1930, 1929, and 1928?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is estimated that the numbers of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, in employment in Great Britain were approximately as follow:
These figures have been obtained by deducting from the estimated numbers insured, the numbers recorded as unemployed and the numbers directly involved in trade disputes together with an allowance of 3½ per cent. of the numbers insured to cover absences from work through sickness, recognised holidays and other forms of unrecorded non-employment.
23rd March, 1931 … 9,267,200 24th March, 1930 … 9,981,000 25th March, 1929 … 10,200,700 26th March, 1928 … 10,100,800
§ Captain BOURNEWill the right hon. Lady tell me if that includes both men and women?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes.
§ 14. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of married women signing the unemployment registers and the number in receipt of unemployment benefit, respectively, for the last week for which complete figures are available?
§ Miss BONDFIELDIt is estimated on the basis of information derived from an inquiry by sample, that at 2nd February, 1931, there were approximately 284,000 married women on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, of whom 271,000 were claimants for benefit. The number actually in receipt of benefit is not available.
§ 15. Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons signing the unemployment registers for the last week for which figures are available; and the number of such persons who drew benefit for such period?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 20th April, 1931, was 2,513,856. The number actually 1782 in receipt of benefit is not available but the number with claims to benefit admitted or under consideration at that date was approximately 2,325,000.
§ Mr. HAYDAYCan the Minister of Labour give the number actually in receipt of benefit for the week mentioned in the question?
§ Miss BONDFIELDNo, there is always overlapping, and we can never be quite sure whether a certain number of claims under consideration will or will not be granted, although we can state the number of claims at any given date.
§ Mr. HAYDAYMy original question was how many received payment for that week, and surely the accounts at the Ministry will show how many received payment for that week.
§ Miss BONDFIELDBut that would not have any relation to the number of claims.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDCan the right hon. Lady give the number disallowed during the month ending on that date?
§ Miss BONDFIELDYes, if I have notice.