§ 8. Mr. DUNCAN GRAHAMasked the Minister of Labour the number of miners unemployed at the latest available date?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAt 26th June, 1933, the number of insured persons in the coal mining industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 384,589, of whom 233,601 were wholly unemployed and 150,988 were temporarily stopped.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThere is a very considerable decrease. It is a decrease as compared with a year ago, of no fewer than 40,415 and, as compared with a month ago, of no fewer than 11,097.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs it not a fact that there is a considerable increase in. the wholly unemployed?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONWith regard to the wholly unemployed, it is a decrease also, as compared with a month ago, of 1222 1,175. As compared with a year ago, it is an increase of 13,324.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSis it not an actual fact that there are fewer miners working at the mines to-day than there were 12 months since?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI should like notice, if I am asked to give actual figures, because I have not got them, but probably what the hon. Member says is true. I do not dispute it.
§ 9. Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of miners wholly unemployed in the county of Durham at the latest date
§ Sir H. BETTERTONAt 26th June, 1933, the number of insured persons in the coal-mining industry classification recorded as wholly unemployed in the county of Durham was 44,424.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONIt is a decrease, as compared with a year ago, of 3,375 and, as compared with a month ago, of 4,064.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs that a decrease of 4,000 wholly unemployed?
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs it not a. fact that these numbers could be considerably reduced if Part I of the Coal Mines Act were repealed?
§ Mr. LAWSONI do not think the right hon. Gentleman has answered my question, which was whether he could state the number of men wholly unemployed in the county of Durham at the latest date.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe number of miners wholly unemployed in the county of Durham at the latest date was, as I have already answered, 44,424.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI think, if I may say so, the lion. Member is justified in asking that question. The figures show that in the total there is a decrease of 3,375, as compared with a year ago, and of 4,064, as compared with a month ago. Now the hon. Member asks me to separate these into temporarily stopped and wholly unemployed. With regard to the tem- 1223 porarily stopped, it shows a decrease of 3,560, as compared with a month ago, and of 2,581, as compared with a year ago. With regard to the wholly unemployed, it shows a decrease of 504, as compared with a month ago, and of 794, as compared with a year ago.