HC Deb 08 July 1931 vol 254 cc2083-4
58 Mr. BUCHANAN

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if she can state the number of married women now receiving benefit whose husbands are in employment and earning on an average in 12 months £4 per week;

(2) if she can state the number of persons who are receiving benefit and who are classified as either short-time or intermittent workers and who receive an average income of £2 in six days;

(3) if she can state the number of persons engaged in week-end printing in this country and now drawing benefit?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)

I regret that statistics giving the information desired in these questions is not available.

Mr. BUCHANAN

I have on the Paper two other questions which deal with this class of worker. Would it not be as well if the Minister could get the figures in time for the Debate to-day on a Bill which concerns these workers?

Mr. McSHANE

How is it possible to estimate that £5,000,000 could be saved when the estimate is based on figures which apparently no one has got?

Mr. BUCHANAN

Why is it that the Minister has not the figures about the married women, seeing that the Ministry's officials have power to question every married woman as to the income of her husband?

Miss BONDFIELD

The present Acts do not permit the compiling of statistics on these specific points, and we have no statistics separating the actual claims into these particular groups. We have, broadly speaking, statistics of certain categories of special test inspections, the 10 per cent. test inspections.

Mr. BRACKEN

If the Ministry of Labour has a statistical department, surely it can divide these figures into the various blocks? Is it not a fact that statistics which suit the Government are given, and that those which do not suit the Government are not given?

Mr. BUCHANAN

Can the Minister not give me the figures on the 10 per cent. basis?

Miss BONDFIELD

If the hon. Member will give me notice I will try to supply the information.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is it not possible for the Minister to give us the figures to-day? It is not an undue advantage for which to ask, that that information should be supplied, seeing that a Bill is to be discussed affecting this class of worker. If figures on the 100 per cent. basis are not possible, cannot they be provided for the 10 per cent.?

Miss BONDFIELD

All the statistics that are available at the Ministry were put in in evidence before the Royal Commission, the report of which the hon. Member has received.

Mr. G. HARDIE

Is it the case that to-day's Debate is to be based on one, or perhaps two, cases, and that those are to align the general application of something that is not known? The importance of to-day's Debate cannot be exaggerated, and I ask the Minister to say whether or not there is sufficient power given to make a statement in regard to the Bill?

Mr. SPEAKER

That hardly arises out of the original question.