§ 1. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that canteen employees working in textile mills in Oldham are entitled only to one week's holiday with pay and that in cases where the mill closes down for two weeks' holiday, these employees have been refused unemployment benefit for the second week; and what steps he proposes to take.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Harold Watkinson)The wages and paid holidays of these workers are governed by orders made to give effect to proposals of the Industrial and Staff Canteen Undertakings Wages Board set up under the Catering Wages Act, 1943. Hitherto the orders in question have provided for up to a week's annual holiday with pay, but the current order, which came into force in October last, provides for annual holidays with pay of up to two weeks. The question of entitlement to unemployment benefit is one for my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance, but from what I have said the hon. Member will see that the problem he has in mind will not recur during the coming holiday season.
§ Mr. HaleI am very much obliged for the information, but what about last year when this industry was hit and, in point of fact, these people were bilked out of a week's unemployment pay?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am afraid it will not be possible to make it retrospective. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] At least we have solved it for the coming year.
§ 2. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Labour to state the figures of total unemployment in the Oldham employment exchange area; and the figures of those temporarily stopped and working part-time for the days of count in October, November and December, 1952, and in January, 1953.
§ Mr. WatkinsonAs the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HaleWould the hon. Member tell us what was the figure for adult male unemployment in Oldham in January last?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI take it the hon. Member means January of this year, or does he mean January of last year?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe figure for 12th January, 1953, of wholly unemployed is 1.102.
§ The following is the reply:
§ NUMBERS OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT THE OLDHAM EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AT THE UNDERMENTIONED DATES
| Date | Wholly Unemployed | Temporarily Stopped | Total |
| 13th October, 1952 | 998 | 2,713 | 3,711 |
| 10th November, 1952 | 1,084 | 2,101 | 3,185 |
| 8th December, 1952 | 1,023 | 1,416 | 2,439 |
| 12th January, 1953 | 1,102 | 1,095 | 2,197 |