§ Sir K. WOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions (1) whether he can state the number of persons in Woolwich affected by the withdrawal of the unemployment donation; 440W how many since such withdrawal have obtained employment; what steps it is proposed to take to assist the remainder during unemployment;
(2) whether he can state the number of women in Woolwich who are affected by the withdrawal of the unemployment donation; how many of these have received training; whether they are entitled to insurance pay; whether any have applied for relief from the Poor Law guardians; whether any have obtained employment; and what steps it is proposed to take to assist the remainder during unemployment?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to reply to these questions. '1'he number of men drawing donation at Woolwich as civilians at the date of cessation of civil donation was about 1,100. About 680 of these began to draw unemployment benefit as soon as donation ceased. It is not known how many of the remainder obtained employment, but practically all of them discontinued their application at the Exchange for work, as is evidenced by the fact that there was a reduction of about 420 on the live register at the Exchange. There has since been an increase of about 150 in the number of teen claiming unemployment benefit; on 12th December this number stood at 1.010 (including 180 who were already drawing benefit before donation ceased). The number of women drawing donation as civilians at the date of cessation of civilian donation was about 640; and so far as is known none of these have received training. Only about twenty of them appear to have transferred immediately to unemployment benefit; but a further number subsequently claimed benefit, as appears from the fact that the number on benefit increased by 440 between 21st November and 12th December. Information is not available as to the number who obtained employment, but the number of women on the live register at the Exchange decreased by 360 between 21st November and 12th December. It is not known whether any of the women concerned applied for Poor Law relief. The committee of the National Relief Fund is considering the question of giving relief in cases of exceptional distress due to unemployment arising out of the War, and an announcement on this matter may be expected to be made shortly.