§ 2. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Minister of Labour the number of days estimated to be lost owing to unemployment since 1st June, 1929; and how it compares with a similar period immediately preceding that date?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Lawson)It is estimated that during the period 1st June, 1929, to 12th January, 1931, approximately 830,000,000 working days were lost owing to unemployment 1116 by persons registered at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, as compared with approximately 610,000,000 in the corresponding period preceding 1st June, 1929.
§ 17. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour the latest figures of the unemployed in receipt of unemployment benefit from coal mining, iron and steel, and cotton industries, and the corresponding figures 12 months ago?
§ Mr. LAWSONAs the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. O'CONNORCan the hon. Member say whether there is any Measure before Parliament at the present moment which will reduce these figures?
§ Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDCan the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what steps are being taken to carry out the pledge to stimulate the depressed textile industry?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot allow a succession of supplementary questions none of which has anything to do with the question on the Paper.
§ Following is the reply:
§ STATISTICS of the numbers actually in receipt of benefit are not available, but the following table gives the numbers of insured persons classified as belonging to the industries in question, who had current claims for unemployment benefit in Great Britain at 16th December, 1929, and 22nd December, 1930.
| Industry. | Number of insured persons with current claims for benefit at | |
| 16th Dec, 1929. | 22nd Dec, 1930. | |
| Goal Mining | 146,825 | 205,429 |
| Pig Iron | 2,352 | 7,609 |
| Steel melting and iron puddling, iron and steel rolling and forging. | 35,920 | 89,261 |
| Cotton | 74,653 | 258,601 |