HC Deb 12 February 1931 vol 248 c562
24. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

asked the Minister of Labour whether, when a person registered at an Employment Exchange is found to have no further prospect of employment in the occupation for which he is registered, he continues to appear in the published statistics as unemployed in that occupational group; and, if so, will she consider having a statistical table prepared in which such persons are separately enumerated so as to show the true position of unemployment by industries?

Miss BONDFIELD

For statistical purposes all insured persons are classified as belonging to the industry in which they are employed at the date of exchange of unemployment books in July of each year, or, if then unemployed, to the industry in which they were last previously employed. It would not be practicable to make the classification suggested by the hon. Member.

33. Sir ASSHETON POWNALL

asked the Minister of Labour what is the actual number of those drawing benefit at the last available date; and how many of these draw transitional benefit?

Miss BONDFIELD

At 26th January, 1931, there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain approximately 2,323,000 insured persons who were qualified for benefit, of whom 394,000 were claimants for transitional benefit.