§ Sir H. SMITHasked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement showing a comparison between the present state of unemployment in the principal industries and other periods of trade depression preceding the War?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe only available figures which enable a comparison to be made between unemployment at the present date and in previous periods of trade depressions are those furnished to the Ministry by certain Trade Unions, mainly of skilled workers, showing the number of their members unemployed at the end of each month. At the end of January, 1921, the percentage of trade unions members unemployed was 6.9. Other years of trade depression for which percentages at the end of January are
Industries. Percentage at end of Jan. 1921. Mean annual percentage in— 1879. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1893. 1894. 1908. 1909. Engineering, Shipbuilding, and Metal. 8.6. 15.3 10.8 12.9 13 5 10.4 11.4 11.2 12.5 13.0 Building* 2.0 8.2 4.7 7.1 8.2 6.5 3.1 4.3 11.6 11.7 Woodworking and Furnishing. 7.5 8.3 3.0 4.1 4.7 3.6 4.1 4.4 8.3 7.6 Printing and Bookbinding. 4.7 4.0 2.1 2.5 2.6 2.2 4.1 5.7 5.5 5.6 Other trades included in return. 8.2 3.3 1.4 1.8 5.2 1.9 2.6 1.9 2.9 2.6 All trades included in returns. 6.9 11.4 8.1 9.3 10.2 7.6 7.5 6.9 7.8 7.7 * Figures relate mainly to December. NOTE.—Short-time workers are not included in these figures. The number of short-time claimants in all industries at Employment Exchanges at the end of January, 1921, was 638,154.