§ 4. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Labour what is now the ratio between unfilled vacancies and persons unemployed; and how this figure compares with those for the same dates in each of the last five years.
§ Sir W. MoncktonAs the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SwinglerDo not the figures reveal the abandonment of a full employment policy during the past 12 months; and what is the Minister doing about it?
§ Sir W. MoncktonWe certainly have not abandoned it, and I am not prepared to abandon that policy at all. The figures disclose the gap which exists between the number of vacancies one would like and the number of vacancies there are.
Following is the reply:For every 100 persons registered as unemployed in Great Britain there were the following number of vacancies notified to employment exchanges and remaining unfilled:
September: 1947 … … … … 253 1948 … … … … 155 1949 … … … … 154 1950 … … … … 129 1951 … … … … 189 1952 … … … … 64
§ Comparability between the figures for different years is materially affected by such circumstances as changes in legislation and administrative practice.