HC Deb 15 February 1940 vol 357 c920
7. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed and available for work who, when last in employment, were not insured for unemployment insurance?

Mr. E. Brown

At 15th January, 1940, there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, 129,259 persons who were not classified as insured persons. Statistics are not available as to the number of persons on the register whose last employment was not insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts.

Mr. Smith

In that case can the Minister explain why, in a recent speech, he dwelt on this aspect?

Mr. Brown

Certainly, I was pointing out that a great number of people who were not in employment before had come forward since the war started to help in our war effort.