§ 26. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken by the Government to deal with the increase of unemployment, as reflected in the figures published this week?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe increase of unemployment to which the hon. Member refers was wholly accounted for by temporary stoppages, due partly to local holidays on the day of the count and partly to extensions of the Whitsun holiday. There was, in fact, a considerable reduction as compared with the previous month in the numbers wholly unemployed. As regards the Government's general policy for dealing with unemployment, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. and learned Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) on 4th July.
§ Mr. LawsonWas not that increase unusual at this time of the year, and particularly in view of the rearmament policy; and will the Minister give some explanation as to what is the Government's policy?
§ Mr. BrownThe explanation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be found, I think, a very full and adequate one.
§ Mr. ThorneIs the Minister not aware that when the figures are up he has always some excuse, and when they are down he is always boasting of it?
§ Mr. BrownI can always rely on hon. Gentlemen opposite to call attention to them when they are up and forget them when they are down.
§ Mr. LawsonWas not the increase at this time of the year unusual?
§ Mr. BrownI would not say so, in the circumstances. We have had three years of continuous decrease of unemployment and—what is more important—increase of employment; an increase which is really very spectacular. There is an element which occurs always in a period of that kind—there is a tendency for consumable goods to be overproduced, and a lag follows.