2. Mr. JOHN RUTHERFORDasked the Minister of Labour how many persons left school and entered the labour market in insurable occupations during 1933; and how this figure compares with the increase in the numbers of persons employed during that year?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. R. S. Hudson)I regret that there is no information available on this point. I should point out that entry into unemployment insurance has hitherto been at age 16, and therefore considerably later in most cases than the age of leaving school. This will be remedied under the Unemployment Bill.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs it not possible to get this information? There are notes to the unemployment figures usually, and they refer to the number who have left school in the period?
§ Mr. HUDSONThe hon. Member will perhaps read this question rather carefully, and he will see that the information asked for is whether the persons who left school were in insurable employment, but the number entering insurable employment after leaving school is indefinite because of the gap between the normal school-leaving age and the minimum age of entering into insurance.