§ 13. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Labour how many ex-Service officers and other ranks were registered as unemployed at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe numbers of ex-Service men and women registered as 178 unemployed at 12th May were 53,964 and 3,658 respectively, of whom 6,374 and 173 were ex-officers registered with the Appointments Department. Separate figures for ex-officers registered at employment exchanges are not available.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the serious plight in which many of these men now find themselves? Will he tell the House what steps he proposes to take in his own Department to try to improve the situation?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI am awar; of the very parlous plight of many of these persons, and I have great sympathy with them, but the hon. and gallant Member will appreciate that in one month we have reduced the figure by 17,000 and that is not bad going in dealing with this problem.