§ 75. Mr. BRACKENasked the Lord Privy Seal the number of unemployed persons who have been placed in permanent or temporary employment since he succeeded to his present office?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Johnston)I assume the hon. Member is referring to the numbers of persons employed on State-aided works specially undertaken for the relief of unemployment. The numbers of persons employed on such works, directly and indirectly, at the end of February this year was approximately 225,000. The number so employed at the end of May, the latest date for which figures are available, was about 245,000.
§ Mr. BRACKENThat does not answer my question. I asked the number of persons who have been placed in permanent or temporary employment.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIt is obviously impossible for us to give figures that are not in our possession. We do not have figures supplied to us with respect to persons employed by private persons.
§ Mr. BRACKENAre the Government afraid to publish the weekly unemployment returns?