§ Mr. CLARRYasked the Minister of Labour the average weekly cost to the country of each man registered as unemployed; and what figures such cost includes?
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§ Mr. BETTERTONI am not quite sure what the hon. Member has in mind. The average amount of unemployment benefit paid to men weekly is about 15s. 7d. per man registered as unemployed. The average weekly amount paid to each man drawing benefit is about 19s. 4d. For information regarding the cost of administration, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Hartlepools (Sir W. Sugden) on the 18th June, 1925.
§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Labour what was the amount of increase in the numbers of unemployed for the week ending Saturday, 6th June, over the preceding week; what trades and what areas showed an increase in unemployment; and whether there was an increase or decrease in the corresponding week last year?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges on 8th June, 1925, showed an increase of 43,900 as compared with 2nd June. The principal areas which showed increases were the Midlands and North-Eastern divisions, but I am unable to say with certainty what trades were responsible for the increase, as industrial statistics are only compiled at monthly intervals. At the corresponding time last year (namely, from 2nd to 9th June, 1924), there was an increase of 24,600.