§ 24. Mr. Viantasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been directed to the large increase in the number of unemployed persons in the building trades; and to what extent, if any, this is due to the inability of firms to comply with deliveries of steel?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe increase to which the hon. Member refers was mainly due to normal seasonal influences. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, a large part of the building industry is in no way dependent upon steel supplies, and I have no reason to suppose that any substantial proportion of the increase was accounted for by a shortage of steel. I should point out that, in spite of the very considerable increase in the number of insured persons attached to the building industry which occurred during the past year, the num- 548 ber unemployed in the industry in Great Britain at 15th November was 1,840 fewer than at the corresponding period last year.