§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state approximately the total number of persons, males and females, respectively, employed in the distributive trades of this country at any date in 1920, and at each quinquennium afterwards, up to date?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe table below shows the estimated numbers of insured males and females in employment in the distributive trades in Great Britain at a date in June of the years 1923, 1925, 1930, 1935 and 1938. Comparable statistics are not available in respect of any year earlier than 1923.
— Males. Females. Total. Aged 16 and over: 1923 686,870 476,930 1,163,800 1925 813,420 545.180 1,358,600 Aged16–64: 1930 946,210 647.130 1,593.340 1935 1,082,290 684,440 1,766,730 1938 1,124,630 751,060 1,875,690 The figures are obtained by deducting from the estimated numbers insured at the beginning of July the numbers of insured persons recorded as unemployed at a date in June. In computing the figure for 1938 the number of persons recorded as unemployed has been ascertained in 1476W accordance with the revised procedure for counting the unemployed, introduced in September, 1937, under which persons subsequently found to be in employment at the date of the count are excluded from the figures.
Juveniles under 16 years of age first became insurable in September, 1934. The estimated numbers of insured persons aged under 16 in employment in the distributive trades in Great Britain in June, 1935, were 151,040 boys and 85,680 girls; and in June, 1938, 133,070 boys and 91,170 girls.