§ 26. Mr. Hunterasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in the radio and furniture trade who are on short-time working, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIt is estimated that in the week ended 2nd June about 3,000 in the radio industry and about 8,000 in the furniture industry were working short-time.
§ Mr. HunterWill the Minister watch the position in these two industries? Short-time working appears to be increasing at a very rapid rate, and short-time working is very unsatisfactory to the work people employed in those two industries.
§ Mr. MacleodYes, I will certainly watch it, but in both industries which the hon. Member has mentioned the recent trend has been downwards. The figures have declined both in the radio industry and in the furniture industry—2,000 in one case and 1,000 in the other in the fortnight previous to the figures which I have just given.