§ 7. Miss Wilkinsonasked the Minister of Labour how many applicants in Jarrow, Hebburn, and Felling, respectively, are now in receipt of extra winter relief; and what percentage these are of the total applicants for benefit?
§ Mr. E. BrownIn the Unemployment Assistance Board's administrative area of Jarrow, which covers the municipal borough of Jarrow and the urban district of Hebburn, the number of persons in receipt of winter allowances on 21st 1872 November, which is the latest date in respect of which information is available, was 1,877. This is equivalent to 65 per cent. of the number of assessments of unemployment allowances current on that date. I regret that separate information in respect of the urban district of Felling which forms part of the Board's administrative area of Gateshead (2) is not available, but in the whole of that administrative area on the same date winter additions were payable in 55.7 per cent. of the assessments for unemployment allowances.
§ Miss WilkinsonWhile I appreciate the difficulties of getting information in regard to Felling, could not the Minister make a special inquiry in view of the long continued unemployment in certain parts of that area. A level of 55 per cent. in that area does not appear to be satisfactory in view of the amount of unemployment.
§ Mr. BrownI think the numbers compare favourably with the percentage figure for the whole country. The only moral to be drawn, I think, is that the Jarrow end has got a special percentage.
§ Miss WilkinsonIs it not a fact that certain parts of the Felling area are really just as bad as the Jarrow area, and could he not have a special inquiry made?