HC Deb 10 July 1934 vol 292 cc166-7
21. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the change in the number of persons unemployed in the last monthly period for which the statistics are available and, for comparison, the change during the corresponding period of last year?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)

Between 14th May and 25th June last the numbers on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain increased slightly from 2,090,381 to 2,092,586. Between 22nd May and 26th June, 1933, the number fell from 2,582,879 to 2,438,108.

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

Can my hon. Friend say to what extent this is due to people being temporarily stood off owing to temporary slackness of trade; and, having regard to the general disquiet owing to the figures, will he represent to the President of the Board of Trade the desirability of checking the great increase of imports?

Mr. HUDSON

The whole of the increase is due to a large increase in the number of persons temporarily stopped, of which increase the coal industry accounted for more than 64,000. My hon. Friend will be relieved to find that the wholly unemployed decreased by 95,000 in the period under review.

Mr. LAWSON

Will the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the President of the Board of Trade to the fact that this month there is an increase of 65,000 miners unemployed who are chiefly dependent on the export trade in coal?

Mr. HUDSON

That is no doubt largely due to the exceptional weather.