§ 48. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated total of men and women available for employment in Skegness, Lincolnshire, how many were unemployed at the latest known date; and how many of these were members of the building or civil engineering trades.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe total numbers of insured persons in the area of the Skegness Employment Exchange at July, 1947, were approximately 5,470 males and 3,000 females. The numbers of such persons registered at the Skegness Employment Exchange as unemployed at 12th January were 303 males and 272 females, including 49 males from the building industry and 6 from the civil engineering industry.
§ Commander MaitlandIn view of the large percentage of building trade workers who were out of work at that time, would the right lion. Gentleman consider consulting with his colleagues, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Works, to see whether during periods such as this, more licences for repairs might not be granted because they do not require the use of material but largely use labour?
§ Mr. IsaacsWhilst not accepting this as an unusually high percentage in the circumstances, I will certainly do as the hon. and gallant Gentleman requests.