§ Mr. KELLYasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has any statistics showing the extent to which the increase in the unemployment figures as compared with January, 1929, is due to the depression now existing in the Lancashire cotton industry; and what action he proposes to take with a view to stimulating a revival of that industry?
Mr. THOMAS62,639 persons in the cotton trade were unemployed on 21st January, 1929. The corresponding figure for this year was 110,784. This shows an increase of 48,000, amounting to 73 per cent. of the total increase in unemployment in all insured occupations between the two dates. Since 27th January there has been an increase in the number of persons on the register of Employment Exchanges of 28,500. Of this increase it is estimated that about three-quarters is due to increased unemployment in the cotton textile districts of North-West England. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 11th February to the hon. Member for Sowerby (Mr. Tout), a copy of which I am sending to him.