HC Deb 07 March 1940 vol 358 c535
2. Mr. Liddall

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will in future in unemployment returns give a separate rough estimate of those unemployed persons, distinguished from persons in seasonal and transitory unemployment and likely to be re-employed within the next 28 days, who, if work be provided, could undertake unskilled or skilled continuous work with only the normal interruptions?

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)

The information available does not enable any satisfactory estimate to be made of the total number of those on the unemployed register who are likely to be re-employed within a specified period, and I therefore regret that it does not appear practicable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Sir Herbert Williams

Can my right hon. Friend say whether all the people on the live register are in fact unemployed and want to get work and cannot get work?

Mr. Brown

I have no doubt that the majority of them do.