MERTHYR TYDFIL. (Hansard, 26 May 1938)

§ 18. Mr. S. O. Davies
asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of persons unemployed in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil on the last day for which information is available; the number in receipt of unemployment assistance allowances; and the number in receipt of statutory benefit?

§ Mr. E. Brown
At 4th April, 1938, there were 8,298 persons aged 14 years and over, registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Merthyr Tydfil. Of the 8,097 persons aged 16 years and over included in this total, 1,402 had claims admitted for insurance benefit, and 6,270 had applications authorised for unemployment allowances (excluding applications for allowances in supplementation of benefit).

§ 19. Mr. Davies
asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the registered unemployed in the borough of Merthyr Tydfil have not been engaged in regular employment for one, two, three, four, five, and over five years?

§ Mr. Brown
As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the statement:
The only statistics available relate to the length of the last spell of registered unemployment of persons, aged 16 to 64 years, applying for insurance benefit or unemployment allowances, irrespective of the nature and duration of their previous employment.
The following table gives the figures on this basis in respect of persons registered at exchanges in Merthyr Tydfil at 4th April, 1938. 1370

Length of period on register.^* Per cent. of total. applicants.

Less than 1 year 49

1 year but less than 2 years 10

2 years but less than 3 years 9

3 years but less than 4 years 5

4 years but less than 5 years 4

5 years or more 23

100

^* Among persons who had been on the register for extended periods a proportion, which will increase as the period on the register increases, will have had one or more short spells of employment lasting not more than three days each during such periods.

§ 20. Mr. Davies
asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons signing at the Employment Exchanges of Merthyr Tydfil and Dowlais who received the winter and cost-of-living increases in allowances; and what was the average amount of such increase paid to such persons?

§ Mr. Brown
Information relating to Employment Exchange areas is not available but in the Unemployment Assistance Board's administrative areas of Merthyr Tydfil and Dowlais which are served by the Merthyr Tydfil, Treharris and Dowlais Employment Exchanges the number of assessments current on 17th January last, which included winter? additions, were 2,149 and 1,245 respectively. The average addition was slightly over 23. per week in each case.

Length of period on register.^*	Per cent. of total. applicants.
Less than 1 year	49
1 year but less than 2 years	10
2 years but less than 3 years	9
3 years but less than 4 years	5
4 years but less than 5 years	4
5 years or more	23
	100
^* Among persons who had been on the register for extended periods a proportion, which will increase as the period on the register increases, will have had one or more short spells of employment lasting not more than three days each during such periods.