HC Deb 16 November 1933 vol 281 cc1091-2
44. Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

asked the Minister of Health if he will state, as on any recent convenient date, the number of cases in which unemployment benefit has been supplemented by grants from public assistance authorities?

The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)

The figures given to the hon. Member on 23rd February last were derived from s, special not a periodical return. I have no later information.

50. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMS

asked the Minister of Health if he will state for the latest available date the number of persons, exclusive of dependants, who were in receipt of Poor relief on grounds of unemployment; and how many of these were persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Act and registered at an Employment Exchange, not so insured but registered at an Employment Exchange, and neither insured nor registered at an Employment Exchange?

Sir H. YOUNG

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

Does the statement show that the bulk of the people receiving assistance on the ground of unemployment are registered in Employment Exchanges?

Sir H. YOUNG

It would be possible to make such a deduction, but I think it would be better for the House to see the tables before coming to a conclusion.

Following is the answer:

The latest complete return of the number of men and women in receipt of out-relief on account of unemployment relates to the 1st January, 1933, and does not give particulars of their condition in respect of insurance or registration. The number then was 122,298 men and 8,273 women. The following table gives the weekly averages of persons in receipt of outdoor relief and registered at an Employment Exchange during September, 1933. The relief to an unknown number of these persons may have been due primarily to sickness and not to unemployment.

Insured. Uninsured.
Men … 74,875 33,926
Women … 2,927 5,191
Total … 77,802 39,117

I am unable to say how many persons in receipt of outdoor relief on account of unemployment are not registered at an Employment Exchange, but the number cannot be large.