HC Deb 16 February 1939 vol 343 c1875
19. Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to show a clear picture of the character and extent of unemployment, he will issue a monthly statement setting out for each district the various periods during which workers have been unemployed; and a summary of the trends in each class period during the previous year?

Mr. E. Brown

The statement on employment and unemployment issued by my Department each month includes an analysis for the country as a whole of applicants for benefit or allowances according to the duration of the last spell of registered unemployment. I will consider whether it will be possible to give corresponding figures for the various administrative divisions together with comparisons with a month before and a year before.

Mr. Stewart

Does my right hon. Friend realise that, despite all that has been done, the general public are not yet aware of the real facts of the unemployment situation; and will he consider the form of the presentation of his returns so that those facts can get over to the people?

Mr. Brown

I am always willing to consider the form of the presentation, but the trouble is that, although the return comes out regularly, when things are going well there is no public notice but when things are adverse there is.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that what the public want is not juggling with figures but action?

Mr. Brown

There is no question of juggling the figures. I will prove to the House that our long-term programme has had a very great improvement upon the situation over the whole period.

Mr. Davidson

Will the Minister keep in mind that if people knew the real facts of the position he would not be the Minister of Labour?