§ Mr. TREVELYANasked the Minister of Labour if he can give a continuation, up to date, of the Return of 28th February giving the figures of unemployment in the building trade?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe total number of persons in the various branches of the building trades registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain at 21st May, 1923, the latest date
Occupation. Numbers Registered as Unemployed at 5th Feb., 1923 5th March, 1923. 9th April, 1923. 7th May, 1923. 4th June, 1923. 2nd July, 1923. Carpenters 16,188 14,917 13,245 10,290 8,736 7,463 Bricklayers 8,436 7,405 5,791 3,639 2,360 1,533 Masons 2,484 2,311 1,891 1,406 1,086 844 Slaters 901 819 757 624 569 505 Plasterers 3,241 3,040 2,969 2,096 1,781 1,376 Painters 39,339 30,041 16,699 9,795 10,415 13,290 Plumbers 6,514 6,632 6,458 6,217 6,191 6,085 Labourers of above occupations. 59,870 57,287 51,405 44,722 43,837 42,213 Total 136,973 122,452 99,215 78,789 74,978 73,309 Separate figures showing the amount of benefit paid in particular trades are not available, but assuming that the workpeople included in the table presented drew the same average amount per head as unemployed workpeople gener-
1768Wfor which figures are available, was as follows:—
Carpenters 8,994 Bricklayers 3,096 Masons 1,204 Slaters 561 Plasterers 1,542 Painters 8,138 Plumbers 3,896 Labourers of above occupations 44,138 All other occupations 14,347 85,916 It is not possible to give the figures of unemployment in the several occupations in the building industry proper for a later date than 21st May. Owing to a recent revision of statistical procedure, the figures of unemployment in the various branches of the building trade will in future relate to unemployment among persons following building trade occupations, whether working in the building industry proper or on building work in other industries. Later figures compiled on this basis are given hereafter, the table being carried back to 5th February, to facilitate comparison over the period in question:
ally, and allowing for the relatively small proportion of women and juveniles included, the total amount of benefit drawn by these persons in the six months ended 2nd July, 1923, is estimated to be about £1,650,000.