§ 13. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour if it is still the estimate of the Ministry that the average amount of unemployment for 1932–33 will be 3,000,000 per week; and, if not, whether he proposes to increase the rates of benefit which were reduced on account of the large expenditure involved in such a large increase of unemployment?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONWithout attempting any definite forecast, I think there is good reason to hope that the average unemployment during 1931–2 will be substantially lower than 3,000,000. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative. These economies are imperative whether or not any figure such as 3,000,000 is reached.