§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Labour how many building workers are unemployed in the London region; and what the corresponding figure was last year.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe number was 4,601 at 12th October, 1953, compared with 6,343 at 13th October, 1952.
§ Lieut-Colonel LiptonWhile this reduction in the number of unemployed building workers is to be welcomed, does the Minister realise that even 4,600 unemployed building workers represents a 751 bad waste of manpower in an essential sector of industry where productivity is of the utmost importance?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI also realise that it represents only 2.2 per cent. of the estimated number of male building employees in the area. Of course, the figure also includes the normal seasonal increase in the number of painters temporarily unemployed.