§ Lieut.-Colonel AINSWORTHasked the Minister of Labour when statistics were last compiled as to the number of ex-service men on the unemployment registers; what was the number at that time; whether it is estimated that the number is now less than at the corresponding period of last year; and whether she will arrange for statistics to be regularly compiled in this respect?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe regular tabulation of statistics regarding the numbers of ex-service men on the registers of Employment Exchanges was discontinued in 1921. On 24th March, 1924, a special analysis was made and it was found that out of 784,165 men on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain there were 274,296 ex-service men unemployed and 11,697 on systematic short time. I regret that I am unable to give comparative statistics for the present time and for a year ago. Statistics are regularly compiled with regard to disabled ex-service men but as regards unemployed ex-service men who are not disabled I do not think I should be justified in resuming the collection of these statistics.