§ 5. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Minister of Labour whether, apart from the recommendations of the Commissioner for the Special Areas, the Government have any proposals to make for the removal of unemployment among the mining population in the county of Durham?
§ Mr. E. BROWNAs to the general policy of the Government on the means of reducing unemployment I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on 27th February. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson) as to the anticipated effect on employment of the Government's programme of making good defence deficiencies in the North-East Coast and other areas suffering from prolonged and severe unemployment.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my question relates specifically to unemployment among the mining population; and are we to understand that the Government armaments programme is devised not only in respect of the absorption of the unemployed generally, but also of the unemployed in the mining community?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not true, according to figures presented by his own Department, that unemployment is increasing among the mining population?
§ Mr. BROWNThat is not so. Unemployment has not increased. The figures for 22nd May, 1933, for Durham were 57,432; for 14th May, 1934, 39,139; for 30th May, 1935, 31,637 and for 25th May, 1936, 26,950.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman really mean to tell the House that unemployment throughout the coalfields, including Durham, is actually on the decrease, and will he present a White Paper to the House in support of the figures which he has just given?
§ Mr. BROWNI shall be very glad to give the full figures for Great Britain if the House wants them. I can give the figures for Great Britain for the same periods. On 22nd May, 1933, the number of insured persons unemployed in the coal mining industry in Great Britain was 395,686; on 14th May, 1934, 293,204; on 20th May, 1935, 262,879; on 25th May, 1936, 216,676.
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members must understand that we cannot have a debate on this subject at Question Time.
§ Mr. SHINWELLI beg to give notice that, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest available opportunity.