§ 7. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Minister of Labour what is the unemployment rate in the Hindley, Horwich, and Westhoughton townships, respectively, at the last available date and for the three corresponding previous dates; and the unemployment rate similarly for Aspull and Blackrod separately from the areas in which such figures are usually merged?
§ Mr. E. BROWNAs the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. DAVIESCan the right hon. Gentleman give the figures for Blackrod and Aspull for the last available date in order that we may check the statement made that in Aspull, with 7,000 inhabitants, the unemployed rate has been for the last five years 75 per cent. of the insured population?
| — | 25th May, 1936. | 20th May, 1935. | 14th May, 1934. | 22nd May, 1933. |
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | |
| Hindley … … | 39.9 | 41.0 | 39.1 | 41.8 |
| Horwich … … | 12.0 | 15.0 | 17.1 | 21.0 |
| Westhoughton … … | 31.8 | 32.4 | 31.1 | 22.6 |
§ There is no Employment Exchange at Aspull or Blackrod, and corresponding percentages cannot, therefore, be calculated for these areas.
9. Mr. W. JOSEPH STEWARTasked the Minister of Labour the number of Persons unemployed in Durham County for one, two, three, four and five years, respectively; and also the number of Persons married and unmarried, that have been transferred from the area since 1931?
§ Mr. BROWNAs the reply is necessarily somewhat long, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ Among persons applying for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances at 25th May, 1936, at Employment Exchanges in the county of Durham (including the county boroughs) 13,842 had been continuosly on the register for one year but less than two years, 7,656 for two but less than three years, 6,355 for three but less than four years, 6,619 for four but less than five years, and 7,792 for five years or more. Corresponding figures are not available in respect of Persons registered as unemployed, who were not applicants for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances. Of the persons who had been on the register for extended periods a proportion, which will increase as the period on the register increases, will have
588§ perhaps he will read the answer, which is a full one, and discuss it with me.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The available statistics relate to Employment Exchange areas and not to local authority areas. Among insured persons, aged 16–64, within the areas of the Hindley, Horwich, and Westhoughton exchanges the proportions unemployed at 25th May, 1936, and at the corresponding dates in the three previous years were as shown below:
§ had one or more short spells of employment, lasting not more than three days each, during such periods. During the period from the end of 1931 to the end of April, 1936, 11,648 men and 4,633 women from Durham were placed by the Department in employment in other areas. Figures showing separately the number of married and unmarried persons transferred are not available.