§ 6. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour the number of people gainfully employed in Lancashire in 1921 and the number in 1934, respectively; and the number signing on at the Employment Exchanges for the same periods?
Mr. STANLEYAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health to a similar question on 30th July last. As regards the second part, the number of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Lancashire at 22nd October, 1934, was 385,915. I regret that a comparable figure for 1921 is not available.
§ 8. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the number of cotton mills closed down altogether in Lancashire since 1921, and the number employed in the cotton industry of Lancashire at that date; and will he give the latest figures he has in his possession of the number employed now?
§ found the experiment so satisfactory that they are continuing on that basis?
Mr. STANLEYI cannot answer in general terms a question like that, but one firm which I believe the hon. Member has in mind—I have not had a chance to study the report—has decided to continue the experiment.