§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether he can issue a statement or chart showing the average periods of unemployment of individuals who have received benefit under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911, and subsequent Acts?
1349W
§ Sir R. HORNEThis information is not available in respect of separate individuals, but the following table gives
*SPELLS OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN WHICH BENEFIT WAS PAID. Insurance year ending mid-July. — 1912–13. 1913–14. 1914–15. 1915–16. 1916–17. 1911 Act.† 1916 Act.‡ Number of spells 258,046 534,049 442,450 86,324 37,435 8,317 Average number of days of unemployment per spell 22.9 25.9 22.0 21.1 22.2 23.9 *A "spell of unemployment" is the number of days of proved unemployment between the date on which a claim to benefit is made and the date on which employment is next obtained in an insured trade. † Six months only. ‡ Ten months only.