HC Deb 21 July 1938 vol 338 cc2393-5
6. Mr. Charles Brown

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed

— Sutton-in-Ashfield Employment Exchange. Mansfield Employment Exchange.
17th January,1938. 13th June,1938. 17th January,1938 13th June, 1638.
Persons aged 16–64.
Males:
Wholly unemployed … 40 59 9 30
Temporarily stopped … 83 113 60 41
Females:
Wholly unemployed … 64 64 22 61
Temporarily stopped … 152 130 102 72
Persons aged 14 and 15.
Boys … 1 1 — —
Girls … 8 4 3 3
Total, aged 14–64 … 348 371 196 207

hosiery workers, giving the figures separately for men and women, on the registers at the Employment Exchanges of Sutton-in-Ashfield and Mansfield for January, 1938, and July, 1938, respectively?

Mr. E. Brown

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. C. Brown

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain the significance of the figures?

Mr. E. Brown

I could not do that except at some length, but if the hon. Gentleman asks for the totals, they run like this: Between 17th January, 1938, and 13th June, 1938, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, 348 and 371—slightly up—and in Mansfield, 196 and 207.

Mr. C. Brown

Seeing that the protection given to this industry neither maintains the wages nor preserves the employment, and that the figures that the right hon. Gentleman has just given apply over the whole range of the industry, do the Government intend to take any action in the matter?

Mr. E. Brown

If the hon. Gentleman desires more protection, I could not debate that question now.

Following is the reply:

The table below shows the numbers of insured persons in the hosiery industry classification recorded as unemployed at the Sutton-in-Ashfield and Mansfield Employment Exchanges at 17th January, 1938, and 13th June, 1938. Figures for July are not yet available.

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