Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Labour the amount of unemployment in the heavy iron and steel industries at the present time, the percentage involved, and how these figures compare with the numbers and percentage unemployed six and 12 months ago?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe numbers registered as wholly unemployed in the trades classed under the heading iron and steel mauufacture were 150,361 on 27th May, 1921—at which date, as my hon. Friend is aware, the coal dispute was in progress— 91,395 on 2nd December, 1921, and 89,821 on 22nd May, 1922. The corresponding percentages of unemployment were 57.8, 35.1 and 34.1 respectively.