§ Mr. KILEYasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the statement that there are 40,000 toymakers out of work; and, if so, how many are drawing unemployment grants and the amount for the three months ending 31st December, 1921?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware that 40,000 toymakers are out of work. At 14th February the number registered as unemployed in the group classified as the toy, game, apparatus, and fishing tackle industry was 2,444, and, in addition, 254 were claiming insurance benefit in respect of systematic short time. The amount paid to persons unemployed in this industry during the three months ending 31st December, 1921, by way of unemployment benefit and unemployed workers' dependants' grants is estimated at about £13,000. These figures must be read in the light of the fact that toy-making is carried on largely by persons working as out-workers, who are not within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance scheme, and do not, save in a small proportion of cases, register at the Employment Exchanges when short of work.