HC Deb 29 February 1940 vol 357 cc2220-1
10. Mr. Robert Gibson

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as belonging to the printing trade in August, 1939, in the United Kingdom, Scotland, and England, respectively; how many, respectively, were unemployed; and how many, respectively, have been received into the armed Forces to the last available date?

Mr. E. Brown

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the Official Report.

Mr. Gibson

Is there a much bigger percentage of unemployment in the printing trade in Scotland than in England?

Mr. Brown

That information can only be got by making a comparison. The hon. Member will see the figures and he will be able to work it out.

Mr. Gibson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is large unemployment in the printing industry in Scotland owing to Scottish printing work being done in England, and will he use his influence with other Government Departments to see that printing required for Scotland is done in Scotland?

Mr. Brown

I will give the figures. In England the estimated number of insured persons aged 14–64 is 278,560, of whom 13,042 are unemployed. In Scotland the figures are 29,570 and 1,924

Following is the statement:

Estimates of the numbers of insured persons are available only in respect of the beginning of July of each year. The table below shows for England and Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom the estimated numbers of insured persons aged 14–64, in the printing, publishing and bookbinding industry at the beginning of July, 1939, and the numbers of such persons recorded as unemployed at 14th August, 1939. Separate figures for the printing trade are not available.

Printing, publishing and bookbinding industry.
— Estimated numbers insured, aged 14–64, at the beginning of July, 1939. Number of insured persons, aged 14–64, recorded as unemployed at 14th August, 1939.
(1) (2) (3)
England 278,560 13,042
Scotland 29,570 1,924
Rest of United Kingdom. 8,390 884
Total—United Kingdom. 316,220 15,850

As stated in the reply which I gave on 22nd February to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mr. Riley), it would not be in the public interest to publish figures as to the numbers taken into the armed Forces.