HC Deb 16 February 1933 vol 274 c1155
16. Mr. LEWIS

asked the Minister of Labour the average monthly increase in the number of unemployed persons throughout the period of the last Labour Government and the corresponding average monthly increase from the time the National Government first took office up to the latest convenient period?

Sir H. BETTERTON

Between 24th June, 1929, and 24th August, 1931, there was an average monthly increase of 62,153 in the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. The corresponding figure for the period between 24th August, 1931, and 23rd January, 1933, was 9,958.

Mr. LEWIS

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the most recent figures in his possession tend to show that the country is beginning to recover from the disastrous policy on unemployment followed by the late Labour Government?

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