§ 6. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed in the county of Fife at the last available date; and how many of these have 566 been unemployed for three months, six months, one year, or two years or more?
§ Mr. E. BrownAs the reply includes a number of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ At 13th February, 1939, there were 10,142 unemployed persons aged 14 and over on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the county of Fife, including 8,906 persons aged 16–64 applying for unemployment benefit or allowances.
§ An analysis of these applicants according to the length of the current spell of unemployment is given below:
| Less than 3 months | 4,757 |
| 3 months but less than 6 months | 1,444 |
| 6 months but less than 12 months | 727 |
| 1 year but less than 2 years | 634 |
| 2 years or more | 1,344 |
§ Corresponding particulars are not available in respect of unemployed persons who are not applicants for benefit or allowances.
§ 7. Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Labour the number of agricultural workers registered as unemployed at the last available date in the county of Fife; and how many of these were in receipt of unemployment pay at the last convenient date?
§ Mr. BrownAt 13th February, 1939, there were 518 persons, aged 14–64, insured under the agricultural scheme who were recorded as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the county of Fife. Of these 454 had applications for unemployment benefit under the agricultural or the general scheme or for allowances.
§ Mr. GallacherDoes the Minister not recognise that there is a very serious situation in agriculture in Fife, and can he say whether any special efforts are being made to assist the agricultural industry there in finding employment?