§ 10. Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the prevalence of underemployment in the manufacturing section of the cotton industry at the present time; and whether he will take steps to enable such workers to sign on at the Employment Exchange when they have 50 per cent. of their machinery stopped, instead of 75 per cent. as at present?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware of the position in the manufacturing section of the cotton industry. I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind in the second part of the question, and perhaps he will communicate further with me.
§ Mr. TomlinsonWill the Minister be prepared to consider the possibility of altering these percentages, inasmuch as many of the people at the present time are being called upon to live upon much less than unemployment pay?
§ Mr. BrownThat question can be read in, perhaps, two or three ways. I would like to know what is in the hon. Member's mind, and talk to him about it.