HC Deb 30 June 1931 vol 254 cc1038-9
17. Mr. LOUIS SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the course of employment in the glove, cultery and gas mantle industries for each quarter since 1st January, 1930?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. SMITH

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the figures have gone down considerably since the date mentioned in the question?

Mr. GRAHAM

There is a reduction, but I would ask the House to guard against the assumption that that is necessarily due to the disappearance of the Duties.

Mr. SMITH

If these figures have gone down seriously, does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the withdrawal

Average numbers of workpeople employed.
—— Glove-making. Gas Mantles.
Leather Gloves. Fabric Gloves.
1930—Fourth quarter … … 7,974 763 1,354
1931—First quarter … … 6,466 506 1,317

Notes.—The particulars in respect of Gloves have been furnished by the Joint Industrial Council for the Glove-making Industry and are stated to relate to firms which, in 1924, employed in the Leather Glove Industry about 88 per cent. of the cutters and in the Fabric Glove Industry about 82 per cent. of the cutters.

The figures for the Gas Mantle Industry, supplied by the Trade Association concerned, relate to the average weekly number of persons employed by firms which are claimed to represent about 95 per cent. of the output of the whole industry.