§ 7. Mr. Austinasked the Minister of Labour the trades of the 41,000 building workers unemployed on 6th December, 1948; what were the reasons for such 925 unemployment; and what steps are proposed for the employment of this valuable productive labour.
§ Mr. IsaacsAs the reply to the first part of the Question includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The amount, namely 3 per cent., is not excessive for this time of year and most of it is accounted for by men changing jobs. Sixty per cent. of the men unemployed on a Monday are in work again before the end of the week.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The following table gives an occupational analysis of the number of men and boys registered as unemployed in Great Britain at 6th December, 1948, whose last employment was in the building and civil engineering contracting industries:
| Occupation | Number registered as unemployed at 6th December, 1948 |
| General Foreman (Building Trades) | 62 |
| Carpenter, Joiner | 1,180 |
| Bricklayer | 1,131 |
| Mason (not monumental) | 59 |
| Monumental Mason, Stone Carver | 9 |
| Slater, Tiler (Roof) | 175 |
| Plasterer | 323 |
| Floor and Patent Roofing Layer, Tiler (Wall and Floor) | 57 |
| Painter, Decorator, Paperhanger | 2,949 |
| Plumber, Gas Filler, etc. | 520 |
| Glazier | 52 |
| Labourers to above Occupations | 1,501 |
| Navvy, Mains Layer's etc. | 434 |
| Constructional Iron and Steel Work Fitter and Erector | 94 |
| Builder's Labourer (not otherwise shown) | 2,303 |
| Navvy's, Mains Layer's. etc. | |
| Labourer | 303 |
| Constructional Iron and Steel Work Erector's Labourer | 15 |
| General Labourer, Heavy Work | 9,246 |
| General Labourer, Light Work | 12,671 |
| All other Occupations | 7,874 |
| Total | 40,958 |