§ 14. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Minister of Labour the number now unemployed at High Wycombe, Slough and Marlow, respectively, and the number who were unemployed at the corresponding date last year?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ have been temporary cessations from time to time in these transfers to correspond with the incidence of vacancies in the locality but, generally speaking, this is an area in which opportunities for employment are relatively favourable and I do not think I ought entirely to exclude men from depressed areas from having some share in such employment.
§ Sir A. KNOXWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration that unemployment there is greater now than it has ever been?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI know that, as regards the area represented by the hon. and gallant Member, that is so, but I would point out that the result of this transfer scheme has actually been to give employment to those in the area, because while, under the grant, a proportion of those employed are taken from the depressed areas, on the other hand the larger proportion are engaged locally.