§ Mr. NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the total number of applications at Labour Exchanges, exclusive of reapplication, during the month of February was 254,504, and that of the 53,171 vacancies filled 9,400 were for less than a week's employment; and whether, with a view to the above figures, the rate of unemployment as furnished by 394 unions is an accurate estimate of the general labour market for the month in question?
Mr. BUXTONThe Labour Exchange figures quoted in the question are correct, but I do not think that they are in any way inconsistent with the figures furnished monthly by trade unions as to the rate of unemployment among their members on a given day. The subject matter of the two sets of figures is entirely different.