HC Deb 21 September 1931 vol 256 cc1275-6
31. Mr. THORNE

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons, both men and women, registered at the Employment Exchanges for the weeks ended 29th August and 19th September, respectively?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Milner Gray)

At 24th August, 1931, there were 2,733,782 persons, including 2,062,176 males and 671.608 females, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. At 14th September, 1931, the total was 2,789,080, of whom 2,095,828 were males and 693,252 were females.

Mr. R. A. TAYLOR

Is the hon. Gentleman able to contemplate any decrease of these numbers in the near future as the result of the policy of the National Government?

Mr. GRAY

I think that the hon. Member will have to wait and see.