§ 53. Mr. O'CONNORasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the increase or decrease in the number of unemployed persons for the four weeks ending at the nearest convenient date to the 27th June, 1931?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)The period this year was one of five weeks, from 23rd May to 27th June, 1932. As 25th May was Whit-Monday last year, no exactly correspond- 1288 ing figure is available: but taking the period of four weeks from the following Monday, namely, 1st June to 29th June, 1931, the increase was 34,918, and taking the period of six weeks from the previous Monday, namely, 18th May to 29th June, 1931, the increase was 157,952.
§ Mr. O'CONNORDo those figures show that the rate of increase of unemployment at this time last year was about 25 times as great as it is this year?
§ Mr. HUDSONI cannot do that sum in my mind at such short notice, but it is clear that the increase was greater last year than this.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESCan the hon. Gentleman tell us which are the industries that are most adversely affected this year?
§ Mr. HUDSONI think I gave those figures yesterday. My recollection is that coal represented an increase of 87,000, and the rest of industry represented a decrease of 81,000.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that if you add on to the figures already given those unemployed persons who are no longer registered the increase has been much more rapid this year than last year?
§ Mr. HUDSONIf a man is not registering for employment, the presumption is that he does not require our assistance to obtain employment.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the progress as represented in these figures?
§ Mr. HUDSONConsidering the worldwide depression, I think they show that we are holding our own.