§ 10. Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Labour the figures of increased unemployment in each division which go to making up the total of 218,000 increase of January over the figures of December?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs the reply includes a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Increase between 21st December, 1931, and 25th January, 1932, in the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges.
| Division. | Increase. | ||
| London | … | … | 47,823 |
| South Eastern | … | … | 24,324 |
| South Western | … | … | 17,012 |
| Midlands | … | … | 28,973 |
| North Eastern | … | … | 35,428 |
| North Western | … | … | 28,296 |
| Scotland | … | … | 15,423 |
| Wales | … | … | 21,211 |
| Great Britain | … | … | 218,490 |
§ 14. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed persons who have been removed from transitional payments by public assistance committees and are not now signing the unemployment register are to be added to the 218,490 increase for the last month in the numbers of those who are unemployed?
§ 17. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour how many persons, were registered as unemployed at the Employment Exchanges on 1st February, 1931, and 1932; and how many persons have ceased to register during the past three months because benefits or transition payments have been disallowed?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe numbers of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were 2,592,650 at 26th January, 1931, and 2,728,411 at 25th January, 1932. It is estimated that in the last three months approximately 130,000 persons had ceased to register at Employment. Exchanges after disallowance of benefit or transitional payments, but it is clear that nothing approaching this number should properly be included in a total of the unemployed.
§ Mr. LUNNHas the right hon. Gentleman any idea how many of these 130,000 persons who have ceased to register ought to be added to the 218,000?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, for this reason: the hon. Gentleman should realise, in the first place, that there are 150,000 more persons in employment than there were this time last year, and, in the second place, that it is not unreasonable to suppose that a very considerable pro- 1003 portion—how many I cannot say—of the 130,000 do not desire the assistance of the exchange in finding a job.
§ Mr. LUNNHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the normal addition to employment of those who have left school?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONYes, I have considered that.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that 130,000 less are employed to-day than a month ago, and does that not indicate that the 218,000 extra unemployed does not constitute the whole figure?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, I do not think that that is so at all. It is well known to the hon. Gentleman and has often been pointed out, that these are the figures of those registering for work and not of those receiving benefit, and that if a man is cut off benefit and does not register for work, it may be—I do not say that it is so in all cases—that he does not desire the assistance of the exchange in finding work.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIf a further question is put down, will the right hon. Gentleman answer it?
§ Sir H. BETTERTON indicated assent.