§ 3. Mr. Sextonasked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons under the agricultural insurance scheme in Durham county, and the number of such persons unemployed in the weeks beginning 15th and 22nd February and 7th March, respectively?
§ Mr. E. BrownEstimates of the total numbers insured under the agricultural scheme, compiled on the normal basis, will not be available until after the general exchange of unemployment books which will begin in July next. The only figures so far available for each county are those showing the numbers of agricultural unemployment books issued up to the end of August, 1936, and these figures exclude private gardeners, who were brought into insurance as from 1st February, 1937. The approximate number of persons to whom agricultural unemployment books had been issued up to the end of August, 1936, by local offices of the Ministry of Labour situated in the County of Durham was 7,530. The number of persons insured under the Agricultural Scheme (excluding private gardeners) recorded as unemployed at 22nd February, 1937, at those offices was 609; corresponding figures are not available for 15th February and 7th March.