§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed persons in Liverpool last week; how many of them were ex-service men; how many disabled ex-service men; the main causes of unemployment in the port; and if the Government has in view any steps to reduce this unemployment or to mitigate the suffering caused by it?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe number of persons on the live registers of the Employment Exchanges in Liverpool on October 15th, was 14,888. This includes 6,699 ex-service men, of whom 252 were disabled. To these figures a margin must be added to represent men who are unemployed but have not registered at the Exchanges. Slackness of work in the port is attributed to various causes, which include a general depression of trade in the area and the effect of the shipwright's dispute. The local authorities have already started schemes for public works and further proposals to provide employment for larger numbers of men are under consideration. With regard to the general measures proposed by the Government to provide employment I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister on the 19th October.