§ 27. Mr. Kennedyasked the Minister of Labour how many workers in Scotland, under the age of 35, exhausted their unemployment benefit during last year?
§ Mr. E. BrownI regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.
§ Mr. KennedyCan they not be made available?
§ 28. Mr. Kennedyasked the Minister of Labour whether any decision has been reached regarding the employment of men in Scotland in the construction of the camps to be built for war-time evacuation; whether he can state the areas in which the work will be carried out; and what distinction is drawn between the skilled and unskilled labour available for the work?
§ Mr. BrownAs regards the second part of the question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that the possible sites for the camps proposed to be built in Scotland are being examined, but no decision on the matter has yet been taken. As regards the first and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Ponty-pool (Mr. Jenkins).
Mr. DavidsonIn regard to these camps, will the right hon. Gentleman depart from the past policy of placing camps many miles away from districts where the men can enjoy some of the amenities of civilisation?
§ 29. Mr. Kennedyasked the Minister of Labour the number of skilled and unskilled labour in the county of Fife now registered as unemployed, and the number registered on the corresponding date of last year?
§ Mr. BrownI am having the available figures extracted and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ 58. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the Minister of Labour how many men are engaged in tunnelling operations in the Orkneys; how many of these men have been brought from the midlands of Scotland, how many from England, how many are Orcadians who were previously 1425 resident locally and employed and unemployed, respectively, where the remainder came from; and how many were brought to the Orkneys by his Department?
§ Mr. BrownI have made detailed inquiries in this connection in consequence of a question asked by the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen), to whom I am sending a full reply. I will let the hon. Member have a copy of this reply, and if there still remain points on which he desires information I should be glad if he would let me know.
§ Mr. GibsonWill the right hon. Gentleman give a reply to the last part of the question concerning his Department?
§ Mr. BrownI will let the hon. and learned Member have that information when I send him the answer after I have completed my inquiries.
§ 65. Mr. Mathersasked the Minister of Labour how many workers were employed in the coalmining and steel industries, respectively, in West Lothian, in January of each of the years 1937, 1938 and 1939; and how many were un employed in each of these industries at the same periods?
§ Mr. BrownI am having the available figures extracted and will circulate a statement in the Official Report.
§ 66. Mr. Mathersasked the Minister of Labour how many shale workers were employed in West Lothian and Midlothian in January, 1937, 1938 and 1939, respectively; and what was the amount of unemployment amongst shale workers in the two counties, separately, at the same periods?
§ Mr. BrownIn the statistics relating to employment and unemployment among insured persons compiled by my Department, shale workers are not separately distinguished. I will see whether figures relating to the numbers of workers employed are available from other sources and will write to the hon. Member.
67. Mr. Davidsonasked the Minister of Labour the total number of registered unemployed persons in Scotland for the years ended January, 1933 and 1939, respectively?
§ Mr. BrownThe average numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Scotland for 1426 the years ended January, 1933, and January, 1939, were 380,799 and 254,958, respectively.
Mr. DavidsonDoes not the Minister think that the slight decrease in unemployment in Scotland, particularly when the Government have such a vast majority, shows the fallacy of their own policy?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member is not asking for information but giving his views.
Mr. DavidsonOn a point of Order. I asked for the figures so that the Minister could indicate whether there has been an increase or a decrease in unemployment, and surely, on finding that there has been such a slight decrease, I am entitled to ask the reason, in view of the Government's majority?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member himself is stating a reason and not asking for one.
68. Mr. Davidsonasked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed men who have undergone training at Glenbranter camp; and the number who have been placed in employment as a result of such training?
§ Mr. BrownThe total number of men who have completed training at Glenbranter Instructional Centre since the opening of the centre on 17th August, 1933; is 4,092. Of these, 338 have been placed in employment either during, or within a short period after, training at this centre and a considerable number of others have been transferred to other centres and have obtained employment from there.
§ 93. Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the fact that, of the 6,261 applicants for benefit or unemployment allowances in the Greenock area as at 16th January, 1939, over 17 per cent. had been unemployed for two years or more and over 11 per cent. for three years or more; how many of these were men and how many women; how many had been unemployed for three to five years and over five years, 1427 respectively; and if he can give any information regarding the type and causes of this long unemployment?
§ Mr. BrownI am having the available figures extracted and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. GibsonCan the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the question?
§ Brigadier-General Sir Henry CroftWill my right hon. Friend take particular pains to see that when so many demands are made from the Opposition that large numbers of refugees should be imported into this country, the claims of our own people will come first?