§ 43. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Labour what is the total number unemployed for over six weeks, the total number unemployed for less than six weeks, and the total number on short time in the furniture industry, expressed as percentages of the total employed in that industry.
§ Mr. WhitelawI regret that the information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. The estimated number of operatives in the furniture industry working short time in mid-January was 12.4 per cent, of the total number of operatives in the industry.
§ Mr. HallIn view of that very high percentage, can my hon. Friend say whether there is any likelihood of the situation improving in the comparatively near future? Secondly, is there any evidence that a number of the skilled craftsmen who are unemployed are being absorbed by other industries?
§ Mr. WhitelawI could not answer the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question without notice, but I should 945 not have thought so. On the first part, as my hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made an Order, which came into operation on 13th March, relaxing certain restrictions in the hire purchase of furniture. I understand that the industry believes that these relaxations will result in increased sales of furniture. Therefore, one would hope that the situation will improve.