§ Mr. COMPT0Nasked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons, male and femals, employed in 1913, 1923 and 1924 in the manufacture of aluminium hollow-ware, enamelled hollow-ware, cutlery, wrapping and packing paper, brooms and brushes, respectively; the unemployment for the same years in each of these trades; and the wage rates in operation for the same years?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe figures relating to the numbers insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts are estimated for certain industrial groups, and the statistics of unemployment also relate to these groups. Of the trades mentioned by the hon. Member, only one—the brush and broom trade—forms a separate industrial group, and the figures asked for, as regards persons employed and unemployed, can consequently be given only for that trade. The following table shows the estimated numbers of insured persons classified as belonging to the brush and broom trade at July, 1923, and July, 1924, and the numbers and percentages of such persons recorded as unemployed each month from June, 1923, the earliest date for which figures are available. (This industry was not within the scope of the Unemployment Insurance Acts in 1913):—
2543WAs regards rates of wages in the industries specified, in no case are particulars in the possession of my Department relating to 1913, but such information as is available for 1923 and 1924 is summarised in the following paragraphs: —
Cutlery.—The time-rates of wages for table, butcher, pen and pocket blade grinders, pen and pocket knife cutlers, scissor filers, borers, hardeners, forgers, etc., and table and butcher knife hafters at the end of 1923 and 1924 ranged from about 1s. 1½d. to 1s. 6d. per hour. For women of 18 years and over the agreed minimum rates ranged from 20s. 6d. to 28s. 6d. a week. No information is available as to the average earnings of pieceworkers, who form a considerable proportion of the operatives.
Wrapping and packing paper.—The rates of wages agreed upon between employers and workpeople in machine-made paper-making at the end of 1923 and 1924 ranged from 11⅞d. per hour for labourers on day work and 1s. l½d. for labourers on shift work to 1s. 6d. per hour for machinemen in the North and South of England, the rates in the West of England, Wales and Scotland being 1d. per hour less. For women of 18 years of age the rates were 6⅝d. and 6⅛d. per hour in the respective districts at the end of 1923 and 1924.
Fabric gloves.—The rates of wages agreed upon by the Joint Industrial Council for the glove making industry at the end of 1923 and 1924 were 52s. 6d. for skilled men, 45s. for unskilled men, and 7d. per hour for women of 20 years and over.
Gas mantles.—The rates of wages agreed upon by the Joint Industrial Council for the incandescent gas mantle industry at the end of 1923 and 1924 were 11½d. per hour for men and 6½d. per hour for women of 18 and over with eight months' experience.
Aluminium hollow-ware.—No information concerning rates of wages in this industry is available.
Enamelled hollow-ware.—Broom and brushes.—Minimum rates of wages in these trades have been fixed by Orders under the Trade Boards Acts, copies of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.
The general minimum time-rates so fixed and in operation at the end of 1923 were, for enamelled hollow-ware, Hid. per hour for men and 6¾d. per hour for 2544W women; and for brooms and brushes 11d. per hour for unskilled men and 1s. 2d. per hour for skilled men, 6½d. per hour for unskilled women, and up to 1s. 2d. per hour for skilled women. The same rates were operative at the end of 1924.
Mr. ERSKINEasked the Prime Minister whether he has received a resolution passed by the National Union of Manufacturers calling upon him to safeguard industries exposed to unfair foreign competition; and, if so, what steps, if any, he proposes taking to amend the rules laid down in the White Paper, dated 3rd February, 1925, so as to include in safeguarding any necessitous industry, which is of comparative substantial importance and which agrees to employ an additional percentage of labour in consideration of the protection granted?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have received a copy of a Resolution on this subject. The Government are not proposing to modify the terms of the White Paper, which appear to them, so far as experience has shown up to the present, adequately to give effect to the policy laid before the country at the General Election.
§ Mr. HARRISasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines have been imposed for smuggling goods made from silk or artificial silk since the imposition of the new duties; and what is the total amount of the fines imposed up to the end of October?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLForty-live fines, amounting to £678, were imposed in respect of attempted evasion of the Customs duties on silk and artificial silk during the period from 1st July until the end of September. Figures for October are not yet available.