HC Deb 03 February 1948 vol 446 cc248-9W
Mr. Edward Davies

asked the Minister of Labour details of the number of men and women unemployed in North Staffordshire, on a trade and industry basis; and how many are disabled persons.

Mr. Isaacs

The table below gives an industrial analysis of the number of insured men and women registered at employment exchanges in North Staffordshire as unemployed at 12th January, 1948:

which German prisoners of war are being repatriated; and the composition of the labour force which is expected to be working on the 1st January, 1949.

Mr. Isaacs

Separate employment statistics for the limestone industry are not available as different sections of that industry are treated as part of "Stone Quarrying and Mining" and "Cement Manufacture," "Lime Kilns and Whiting Works" respectively. On 1st January, 1948, about 1,400 prisoners of war and 250 Poles were employed in the industry and since that date some 100 European volunteer workers have been engaged. With regard to the repatriation of prisoners of war I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Secretary of State for War to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson) on 20th January. It is not possible to forecast the composition of the Labour Force on 1st January, 1949.