HC Deb 20 July 1933 vol 280 cc1967-9
14. Mr. VYVYAN ADAMS

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state in a single figure the approximate number of persons who are no longer included in the unemployment returns since August, 1931, owing to the operation of the Anomalies Act and any other administrative changes?

Mr. HUDSON

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 27th October, 1932, to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Aberdare (M r. G. Hall). For the reasons then given I regret that it is not possible to make any estimate in respect of the present time.

Mr. ADAMS

Is it not true to say that the recent employment figures represent a remarkable and substantial improvement in the position?

Mr. HUDSON

Yes, that is undoubtedly so.

6. Mr. EDWARD WILLIAMS

(forDr. JOHN WILLIAMS) asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of insured persons over 58 years of age who have been continuously unemployed for more than 12 months in the Wales Division and in Great Britain?

Mr. HUDSON

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

7 and 8. Mr. E. WILLIAMS

(for Dr. J. WILLIAMS) asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will issue a report showing the number of employed and unemployed persons whose cards are returned to Kew for this year; and whether it will be possible to ascertain the proportion of men, women and young persons included in the total;

(2) the number of employment cards sent to Kew in the course of the year and give the record of employment of each individual insured person; and whether the Returns showing the totals employed and unemployed as ascertained by the Department from these sources are published and where they are obtainable?

Mr. HUDSON

The unemployment books, numbering about 12,500,000, sent to the Claims and Record Office, Kew, at the expiration of their year of currency are the basis of the detailed statistics of the number of insured persons, which give separate figures for males and females, boys and girls and are also analysed in various other ways. For a number of reasons, the books at Kew are not a suitable basis for obtaining statistics of unemployment; these statistics are compiled once a month from a count of books lodged at Employment Exchanges, and of uninsured persons registered at these Offices. All these statistics are to be found in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

11. Mr. BROWN)

(for Mr. D. GRENFELL asked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons classified as coal-mining employés in the Wales division in June, 1922, June, 1932 and June, 1933, with the percentage of registered unemployed in that category on the same dates?

Mr. HUDSON

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement:

Insured persons in the coalmining industry classification in the Wales division.

— Estimated Numbers insured at July. Percentage of Insured Persons recorded as unemployed towards end of June.
1923* … 282,400 2.3
1932 … 219,070 45.0
1933 … † 40.2
*Owing to a change in the basis of industry classification comparable figures are not available for any year earlier than 1923.
†Not yet available.

NOTE.—The figures for 1923 relate to persons aged 16 and over. For 1932 and 1933 they relate to persons aged 16 to 64.

9. Mr. C. BROWN

(for Mr. D. GRENFELL) asked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons employed in the coal mining, engineering, shipbuilding, iron and steel manufacture, and the corresponding number of registered unemployed for this group in June, 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933?

Mr. HUDSON

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, cir-

Estimated numbers insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts and numbers recorded as unemployed in Great Britain in the under-mentioned industry classifications.
Industry Classification Year. Estimated numbers insured (employed and unemployed) at beginning of July. Number recorded unemployed at end of June
Coalmining 1929 1,074,610 204,012
1930 1,069,370 255,707
1931 1,046,750 378,633
1932 1,044,830 425,004
1933 * 384,589
Engineering† 1929 988,200 76,783
1930 1,001,420 143,517
1931 990,040 258,145
1932 962,570 264,361
1933 * 215,433
Shipbuilding and ship repairing 1929 192,480 42,824
1930 192,310 60,013
1931 183,790 103,562
1932 171,440 106,493
1933 * 96,445
Iron and steel (including pig iron) manufacture. 1929 200,770 36,752
1930 202,670 58,083
1931 188,800 89,095
1932 185,888 88,488
1933 * 70,316
* Not yet available.
† Including general, electrical, marine and constructional engineering, and the construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft.