§ 15. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number of unemployed mineworkers registered at employment exchanges in the county of Durham in the months of October, November and December, respectively, and the amount paid to them in benefit in the same period.
§ Mr. HareThe figures are: 1,158, 1,541 and 1,555, respectively. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not readily available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure of public funds.
§ Mr. ShinwellDo these figures not indicate that the closing of pits merely transfers the burden to the Insurance Fund and that the scheme initiated by the National Coal Board for the transfer of unemployed miners from Durham to other parts of the country has not proved completely successful?
§ Mr. HareObviously, from the figures, it has not proved completely successful, but I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that the Coal Board has gone out of its way to find jobs for miners who are displaced because of the pit closures. I think it has done as good a job as possible.