§ Mr. J. DAVISONasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the approximate number of bricklayers and bricklayers' labourers at present registered at the Employment Exchanges as being out of employment?
§ Mr. WARDLEAt 5th December, the latest date for which figures are available, 450 bricklayers and 768 bricklayers' labourers were registered at the Employment Exchanges as applicants for employment. This does not mean that all these men are out of work, nor that there is no work available for thern—there are always floating numbers of men seeking to change their jobs. Further, at the present time, when a job comes to an end in one district there arc difficulties of housing accommodation which prevent the moving of the man to new work. It is notorious that there is a large unsatisfied demand for bricklayers at the present time.