§ 72. Mr. NOEL LINDSAYasked the Minister of Health the number of able-bodied unemployed persons in Great Britain who are at present in receipt of out-relief on account of unemployment who are not included in the unemployment Returns issued by the Ministry of Labour?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)It is estimated that all but 13,000 of the number of able-bodied persons shown as in receipt of relief on account of unemployment, in Great Britain are registered at the Employment Exchange and duplicated in the official returns of the Ministry of Labour.
§ Mr. LINDSAYIs it true to say that the fall in the figures of unemployment is a real fall and is not accounted for by a transference to the Poor Law?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThat is a perfectly correct statement. It is a fall in unemployment generally, and there are no offsets.
§ Mr. DUNCANCan the Parliamentary Secretary say what are the main reasons for the increase in the numbers of those on relief?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe greater part of the increase, which is unavoidable owing to the cumulative effect of the trade depression is due to the number of dependants who are included in the totals, to the fact that relief is more freely sought and more freely given, and also because recent Government legislation has brought within the ambit of assistance deserving cases which were hitherto excluded.