§ Sir H. CROFTasked the Minister of Labour (1) how many persons are now employed in the manufacture of motor tyres; and what was the number in 1926;
(2) how many textile workers are employed in the manufacture of cotton fabric for motor tyres?
§ Mr. LAWSONSeparate statistics of employment and unemployment are not available for the manufacture of motor tyres, which is included for statistical purposes in the rubber industry group, nor as regards the number of textile workers employed in the manufacture of cotton fabric for motor tyres. At July, 1929, there were 65,180 insured persons aged 16 to 64 classified as belonging to the rubber industry in Great Britain, of whom 7,005 were recorded as unemployed at 25th November, 1929. At July, 1926, the estimated number insured was 58,420, and the number unemployed at 22nd November, 1926, was 9,180.
§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Minister of Labour whether she has any statistics showing the numbers of unemployable persons in different parts of the country; and what is the estimated proportion of unemployables on the live register?
§ Mr. LAWSONI regret that statistics showing the total number of unemployable persons in Great Britain are not available. In certain of the inquiries made from time to time on a sample basis regarding claimants for benefit on the278W registers of Employment Exchanges, analyses have been made for the purpose of determining the numbers within various degrees of employability. Similar figures are not available in respect of the persons on the registers who had no claims to benefit. The last inquiry of this kind was made in April, 1927, when it was found that among the claimants to benefit included in the sample about 2.1 per cent. of the men and 1.3 per cent. of the women were considered to be verging on the unemployable, i.e., they were persons whose industrial value was so low that employers would only engage them in the last resort, if at all.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Lord Privy Seal what number of men are now at work as the outcome of the operation of his various schemes?
Mr. THOMASAs is explained in the White Paper, which is available in the Vote Office to-day, I hone that it will be possible to give certain particulars of the kind asked for at a later date.