§ 13. Squadron-Leader Flemingasked the Minister of Labour how many workers were registered as unemployed at the end of February, 1949; and how many of them were coloured people.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe latest date for which figures are available is 14th February, when the total numbers registered as un- employed in Great Britain was 360,283. The number of these who were coloured people is not known.
§ Squadron-Leader FlemingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the president of the West African Traders' Union quotes the "News Chronicle" of 14th February as stating that in the city of Manchester alone there were 3,000 coloured people unemployed? Can he tell us if that is a fact?
§ Mr. IsaacsI do not care what newspaper the hon. and gallant Member 184 quotes. I shall not endeavour to distinguish in these figures between coloured people and white men.
§ 14. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures of persons unemployed in the towns of Batley and Morley for the months of January in each of the following years, 1949, 1944, 1939, 1934.
§ Mr. IsaacsAs the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply
§ The Table below shows the number of unemployed persons on the registers of Batley Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Bureau and Morley Employment Exchange in January in the years in question.
| — | 1949 | 1944 | 1939 | 1934 | |
| Batley | … | 57 | 15 | 3,229 | 3,592 |
| Morley | … | 52 | 56 | 3,019 | 2,374 |