§ 35. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed signing on at the following exchanges, Spennymoor, Sedgefield, Haverton Hill; and how these figures compare with the same period of last year.
§ Mr. IsaacsAt 13th March the figures were 386 at Spennymoor, 34 at Sedgefield and 152 at Haverton Hill. The corresponding figures at 14th March, 1949, were 475, 21 and 134, respectively.
§ 36. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed miners by reason of disability caused through accident in the mines, are signing on the unemployed register at Spennymoor and Sedgefield exchanges.
§ Mr. IsaacsI regret that the information is not available. The records are not kept according to the employments in which the disability may have been incurred, and to obtain the information it would be necessary, not only to examine the individual particulars of 994 those who are miners now, but to identify those who have been in the mining industry at any time.
§ Mr. SlaterIs my right hon. Friend aware that a certain amount of disquiet has been created because of the disabilities brought upon our people through accidents in the mining industry? Is anything being done to accommodate them in other employment?
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, Sir, a great deal is. being done in the field of silicosis and in Remploy factories. The trouble is that a man may have been in the mining industry and have taken employment elsewhere, but gives his present employment as his occupation when he comes to register. We cannot, therefore, always check up whether or not he was a miner.