§ 10. Mr. Dayasked the Minister of Labour the number of insured persons in the coal mining industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain as at the last convenient date?
§ Mr. E. BrownAt 22nd February, 1937, there were 137,067 insured persons, aged 14–64, in the coal mining industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain.
§ Mr. DayIn view of the large number of unemployed, can the Minister say how the Government propose to deal with the situation?
§ Mr. BrownI may point out to the hon. Member that, on 20th February, 1936, the number was 189,687, while, on 20th February, 1933, it was 299,646.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan the right hon. Gentleman point to any Government proposal which is calculated to absorb these unemployed?
§ Mr. BrownThe general policy of the Government has resulted, as I have already indicated, in a great improvement.
§ Mr. James GriffithsIf a miner secures temporary employment in some other occupation is he thereafter still counted as a miner, or is he classified as some other kind of workman?
§ Mr. BrownThe classification would depend largely on how long the temporary employment had lasted.
§ Mr. LawsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reduction to which he refers is scarcely equal to the death-rate, and the rate at which people are removed from the register for other causes?
§ Mr. BrownI should not accept that. There are other factors, but if the hon. Member wants to know how many people are employed in the industry, I can give him the answer.