HC Deb 13 March 1933 vol 275 cc1618-20W
Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the particulars of the scheme submitted to him which has been initiated by Sir Harold Bowden with a view to providing work on a national basis in relief of unemployment; and whether, in view of the urgency of the matter, he will say what action he proposes to take?

Sir H. BETTERTON:

This scheme is one of a number which have been suggested with the object of using unemployment pay as a subsidy to wages. The danger of such an arrangement is that by placing a premium on the employment of persons carrying the subsidy and thereby discouraging engagements at ordinary wages, it may tend to increase rather than reduce the burden of unemployment. For this reason schemes of this kind have been rejected in the past, but, in view of the general interest which is being taken in the matter, I am having the whole matter again examined, in order

The earliest complete year for which comparable statistics of employment and unemployment in particular industries are available is 1924. The following table, therefore, gives figures for 1924. 1931 and 1932.
Area. Year. Estimated number insured at end of June. Average number of insured persons recorded as unemployed. Difference between Col. (2) and Col. (3).
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Coal Mining.
Carmarthenshire … 1924 … 17,300 400 16,900
1931 … 15,100 1,900 13,200
1932 … 15,000 2,500 12,500
Glamorgan … 1924 … 190,200 14,400 175,800
1931 … 145,700 51,400 94,300
1932 … 144,100 61,900 82,200
Monmouth and Brecknock* … 1924 … 53,200 6,900 46,300
1931 … 44,800 11,700 33,100
1932 … 43,800 17,000 26,800
Steel melting and Iron puddling. Iron and Steel rolling and forging.
South Wales† … 1924 … 28,500 3,000 25,500
1931 … 24,600 14,100 10,500
1932 … 24,300 13,400 10,900
Tinplate Manufacture.
South Wales† … 1924 … 25,700 800 24,900
1931 … 28,100 11,200 16,900
1932 … 28,000 10,400 17,600
* Separate statistics are not available for Brecknock.
† Including the counties of Brecknock, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Monmouth and Pembroke.

to see whether any scheme free from this danger can be devised. I should add that no action could be taken without legislation.