17. Mr. Davidsonasked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons in Glasgow who have been continuously unemployed for a period of three years or more?
§ Mr. E. BrownAt 14th February, 1938, there were 7,468 persons who had been continuously on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Glasgow as applicants for unemployment benefit or allowances for three years or more. A proportion of these persons had one or more short spells of employment, lasting not more than three days each, during that period. Corresponding figures are not available for persons registered as unemployed who were not applying for benefit or allowances.
Mr. DavidsonWith regard to the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, would he ask employers of labour to extend some sympathy to people who have suffered such long periods of unemployment should they find themselves in difficulty during the first few weeks after they have again obtained employment?
§ Mr. BrownThat point has been made before, and I have considered it in conjunction with some of my local committees.
§ Mr. LawsonWhat are the Government going to do about these people who have had long periods of unemployment? Is it the view of the Government that a person who has been unemployed for three years has finished with industry?