§ 6. Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Liptonasked the Minister of Labour how many persons are registered as unemployed at the Brixton employment exchange; and what the figure was on the corresponding date in 1951.
§ Sir W. MoncktonOne thousand seven hundred and seven-three at 17th March. 1952, and 1,265 at 12th March, 1951.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that these figures show a disturbing trend which is manifesting itself all over the country? Is he also aware that, while people are prepared to make sacrifices for economic survival, growing unemployment is not a sacrifice which people generally will accept passively?
§ Sir W. MoncktonThe hon. and gallant Gentleman will see from the figures which I have given the extent of the increase, and he will also no doubt have seen from the Press that, apart from the special and difficult case of the textile 2954 industry, there has not since February been any marked increase in unemployment.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs this not a 50 per cent. increase over last year at this one exchange?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI ought to make it plain that one ought not to draw too many deductions either way from the figures of the Brixton employment exchange. If I may so put it, it is rather a dormitory area and one cannot get much of a picture from the figures of that exchange alone. That is why I referred to the national figures as well.