HC Deb 03 November 1938 vol 340 c343
14. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of unemployment assistance in the districts covered by the Pontefract area office on the latest available date, and the comparative figures for 1937 and 1936?

Mr. E. Brown

During the week ended 21st October, 1938, 2,481 payments of unemployment assistance allowances (excluding payments in supplementation of insurance benefit) were made at the Employment Exchanges serving the district covered by the Pontefract area office. The corresponding figures for the weeks ended 22nd October, 1937, and 23rd October, 1936, were 2,679 and 4,269 respectively. It should be noted that owing to the extension of the Unemployment Assistance Scheme at the Second Appointed Day (1st April, 1937), the figure for the week ended 23rd October, 1936, is not strictly comparable with those for the later periods.

15. Mr. Smith

asked the Minister of Labour the number of wholly unemployed persons registered at Normanton, Castleford, and Pontefract at the present time, and the comparative figures for each of the last three years?

Mr. Brown

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

Mr. Smith

Do the figures show a decrease or an increase?

Mr. Brown

There arc three tables and every one shows a decrease.

Following is the statement:

Table showing the numbers of persons, aged 14 and over, registered as wholly unemployed at the Normanton, Castleford and Pontefract Employment Exchanges at a date in September of the years 1938, 1937, 1936, and 1935:
Date Normanton. Castleford. Pontefract.
12th September, 1938 503 2,312 755
13th September, 1937 552 2,063 749
21st September, 1936 783 3,349 2,070
23rd September, 1935 904 4,045 2,477