§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Minister of Labour the unemployed figures for the towns of Oldbury, Cradley, Halesowen, and Stourbridge on the 31st December, 1924; and the figures for the same towns on the 30th November, 1925?
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§ Mr. BETTERTONThe following Table gives the available information:
Persons on the Registers of certain Employment Exchanges. — Oldbury Cradely Heath (including Halesowen) Stourbridge. 29tb December, 1924. Men 1,417 5,839 1,724 Boys 58 180 45 Women 453 1,035 344 Girls 133 79 26 Total 2,061 7,133 2,139 30th November, 1925. Men 1,002 3,311 1,446 Boys 8 46 29 Women 154 370 236 Girls 35 21 13 Total 1,199 3,748 1,724
Mr. BECKETTasked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in each of the main industries in October, 1925, the percentage of unemployed in the same industries in October, 1925, and the percentage increase or decrease compared with October, 1924?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe information desired is contained in the November issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. LOUGHERasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give figures showing the number of men drawing unemployment pay in the chief ports of South Wales at the present time compared with the figures of three months ago, distinguishing the various trades, such as ship repairing, transport work, coal trimmers, seamen, and general workers; the total number of workers unemployed at Cardiff (including Penarth and Barry), Newport, Swansea, and Port Talbot; the total number of persons now drawing unemployment benefit in South Wales and Monmouthshire; and the total amount of unemployment pay distributed per month in South Wales and Monmouthshire for the first nine months of this year, compared with the corresponding period of last year?
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§ Mr. BETTERTONAt 26th October, 1926, there were 91,093 persons in South Wales and Monmouthshire with current claims to benefit, but I cannot say how many were actually in receipt of benefit at that date. As regards the other points, the reply involves a number of figures, and I will, with the permission of my right hon. Friend, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the statement:
TABLE A.—Number of Insured Men recorded as unemployed at the chief ports of South Wales.* (By principal industries.) Industry. 24th Aug., 1925 23rd Nov., 1925. Building 894 1,073 Public Works Contracts 770 764 Shipbuilding 3,755 3,318 Iron and Steel 2,506 2,146 Brass, copper, zinc, tin, etc. 508 385 Tinplates 756 451 Iron and steel tubes 215 264 Artificial stone and concrete manufacture. 776 877 Shipping service 1,925 1,394 Canal, river, dock service 3,583 4,406 Road transport, other than trams and omnibuses. 311 334 Coal mining 2,704 1,681 Distributive 759 1,152 All other insured industries 3,430 3,286 Totals 22,892 21,531 * Area covered by Employment Exchanges at Cardiff, Buts Docks, Penarth, Barry, Newport, Newport Docks, Swansea, Swansea Docks and Port Talbot 1214W
TABLE B.—Number of Insured Persons recorded as unemployed at each of the chief ports in South Wales. Area. 24th Aug.,1925. 23rd Nov., 1925. Cardiff … … 3,970 4,927 Bute Dock … … 3,722 3,742 Penarth … … 408 613 Barry … … 1,778 1,970 Newport … … 2,193 2,352 Newport Dock … … 1,501 1,719 Swansea . … … 4,399 3,442 Swansea Dock … … 2,151 1,730 Port Talbot … … 5,042 3,175 Total … … 25,164 23,676
TABLE C.—Total Amount of Unemployment Benefit distributed per month in South Wales and Monmouthshire for the First nine months of 1925 compared with the corresponding period of 1924. — 1924. 1925. £ £ January … … 69,000 308,000 February … … 95,000 242,000 March … … 64,000 255,000 April … … 62,000 262,000 May … … 80,000 289,000 June … … 78,000 266,000 July … … 82,000 337,000 August … … 117,000 284,000 September … … 154,000 332,000 Total … … 801,000 2,575,000 The above figures do not include benefit paid through Associations under Section 17 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920.