29. Mr. Davidsonasked the Minister of Labour whether he will make the necessary arrangements so that unemployment and Poor Law relief figures shall be issued simultaneously for the purpose of giving Members of the House and the general public a complete conspectus of the unemployment problem in the country?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that it is not practicable to compile Poor Law figures in respect of persons relieved on account of unemployment in time for publication with the unemployment figures for the same date. The statistics of unemployment compiled by my Department give a complete conspectus of the unemployment problem and include practically all able-bodied persons who are in receipt of Poor Law relief on account of unemployment. Consequently any assumption that the Poor Law figures must be added to the official unemployment figures for this purpose is erroneous.