§ 13. Mr. Burdenasked the Minister of Labour the number of workers engaged in the manufacture of women's outerwear who were unemployed or on short-time during the week ended 27th October, 1951; and how the figure compares for the week ended 25th October, 1952.
§ Sir W. MoncktonI cannot give figures separately for the manufacture of women's outerwear but only for the tailoring and dressmaking trades as a whole. In these trades there were on 15th October, 1951, 7,929 wholly unemployed and 11,007 temporarily stopped. On 13th October, 1952, there were 5,402 wholly unemployed and 2,516 temporarily stopped—a total decrease of 11,018.
§ Mr. BurdenWould my right hon. and learned Friend not agree that although these figures are not wholly satisfactory they show a considerable improvement over those of last year and will bring considerable encouragement to the textile industry, which was neglected by the previous Government?
§ Mr. H. HyndCan the Minister say how long it took the hon. Member to find one industry in which unemployment has decreased?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI can only say that if he had asked me I could have given him several.