§ 2. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of people unemployed in the cotton industry on 31st October, 1931, and 31st October, 1933, men and women, respectively; and how many have been unemployed for more than one year?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs the reply contains a number of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The numbers of insured men and women aged 18 to 64 in the cotton industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at the dates in question were as follow:
| Men | Women. | |
| 26th October, 1931 | 59,023 | 126,364 |
| 23rd October, 1933 | 41,197 | 65,534 |
§ I regret that Statistics showing the numbers included in these figures who had been unemployed for more than one year are not available.
507§ 3. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of mills which have been closed in the cotton industry in Lancashire since October, 1931, to October, 1933, and the number of workpeople who have been discharged?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI understand that during the period October, 1931, to October, 1933, the number of cotton mills that closed down in the North Western Division of the country was 128, of which 116 were in Lancashire. During the same period 47 cotton mills, of which 44 were in Lancashire, have been re-opened. I have no information regarding the number of workpeople discharged during this period; but the hon. Member will be glad to know that whereas the estimated number of insured persons in employment in the cotton industry in the North-Western Division at the end of June, 1931, was approximately 285,000 the estimated number in employment at the end of June, 1933, was approximately 328,500.
| Insured persons in the cotton industry classification in Great Britain. | ||||||
| — | Estimated numbers insured at beginning of July. | Insured persons recorded as unemployed at end of June. | ||||
| 1923. | 1933. | 1923. | 1933. | |||
| Men* | … | … | 187,620 | 171,510 | 38,564 | 47,214 |
| Boys (aged 16 and 17) | … | … | 18,420 | 8,230 | 2,498 | 677 |
| Women* | … | … | 324,870 | 300,940 | 75,597 | 76,465 |
| Girls (aged 16 and 17) | … | … | 36,530 | 19,160 | 5,523 | 1,282 |
| Totals | … | … | 567,440 | 499,840 | 122,182 | 125,638 |
| *Aged 18 and over at July, 1923; aged 18-64 at July, 1933. |
8. Mr. MACDONALDasked the Minister of Labour the number of cotton operatives unemployed; the number in receipt of statutory benefits; the number on transitional payments; and the number disqualified from transitional payments owing to the means test at the latest date on which figures are available?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe number of insured persons in the cotton industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at 20th November, 1933, was 101,740. I regret that the remainder of the information desired is not available.
§ 7. Mr. GORDON MACDONALDasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed in the cotton industry in 1920 and at the latest date on which figures are available, specifying the number under 16 years of age and the number of men and women?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAs the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Figures are not available in respect of the number of persons employed in the cotton industry in 1920. As from July, 1923, statistics are available in respect of the number of persons in the cotton industry classification who were insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and the numbers recorded as unemployed, but these figures exclude juveniles under 16 years of age. The following table gives such figures as are available for July, 1923, and July, 1933: