§ 6. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Minister of Labour if he can give the House any information with regard to the present rate of growth of technological unemployment?
Mr. HUDSONThere are I am afraid no statistics enabling me to answer this question. It is, in fact, very difficult to distinguish at all accurately between what is described as technological unemployment and unemployment due to other causes.
§ 7. Mr. LEWISasked the Minister of Labour how many persons in this country were unemployed at the time the National Government was first formed, and the corresponding number for the latest date available?
Mr. HUDSONAt 24th August, 1931, there were 2,733,782 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. At 26th September, 1932, the number was 2,858,011.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSHas the hon. Gentleman any idea how many people who are unemployed are not at present attending the Employment Exchanges?
Mr. HUDSONThe hon. Member knows that the presumption is that, if a man is unemployed and does not register, he does not desire the assistance of the Employment Exchange in finding work.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that the Minister has already estimated 1949 that there are between 150,000 and 200,000 unemployed who are not attending the exchanges?
Mr. HUDSONYes, Sir. That may be the case, but the majority of those men do not desire our assistance in finding work.
§ Mr. HANNONDo not the figures which my hon. Friend has just given show a distinct improvement in the situation?