§ 17. Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Minister of Labour if he will issue a table showing the latest percentages of unemployment in the iron and steel manufacturing industries, the motor-vehicle industry, the paper-making industry, and the hosiery industry?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe figures desired by my hon. Friend will be found in the issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for November, pages 432 and 433.
§ 18. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of unemployed workers during July and October, respectively, in the coal, iron and steel, cotton, building, and shipbuilding industries?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe figures desired by the hon. Member will be found in the issues of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for August and November, respectively, pages 310 and 311, 430 and 431.
§ 10. Mr. ANEURIN BEVANasked the Minister of Labour if he will state how many persons were in employment in the iron and steel, coal, cotton, building, and shipbuilding industries, respectively, during each of the past three months?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONStatistics of the numbers actually in employment in individual industries are not available for the dates referred to, but the estimated total number of insured persons in each industry classification at the beginning of July, 1931, will be found in the November issue of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette," while the numbers recorded as unemployed towards the end of August, September and October, will be found in the issues of the Gazette for September, October and November.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have told the hon. Member that the information is in the issue for November. I cannot tell him more than that.
§ Mr. LAWSONThe last issue of the Gazette came out about 15th November, over a fortnight ago. Is it not possible to get more recent information?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe hon. Gentleman is really a little unreasonable. If we had to obtain these further very complicated figures, it would mean a great deal of labour.
§ Mr. BEVANCannot we have the figures of employment up to a more recent date, in the same way as hon. Members can get the figures as to imports?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe hon. Gentleman knows that the books are exchanged at the beginning of the month of July in each year, and it is only at July that there is any classification of trades in relation to employment in those trades. The other question I have answered already.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the Minister consider whether this method of answering questions by reference to obscure publications is the most convenient form in which the information can be given to Members?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am extremely sorry that the hon. Gentleman thinks that the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" is an obscure publication, for I know no more careful student of the Gazette than the hon. Member when he wants to use it for the purpose of attacking the Government.