§ Sir S. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Labour if she will supply complete quarterly average figures of wages, employment and unemployment for the years 1924 to 1929, inclusive, in respect of that part of the cutlery industry the products of which are, on importation, liable to duty?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI regret that information is not available as to average wages for the years 1924–29, nor as to the numbers or proportions of workers unemployed, this industry not 1795W being separately distinguished in the statistics of employment and unemployment among workpeople insured against unemployment. I am informed, however, by the Board of Trade that particulars supplied to that Department by the Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers' Association, relating to firms covering between 50 and 60 per cent. of the aggregate output of the whole industry, show the following average numbers of workers employed by those firms:
Year. Average number of workpeople employed. 1926 … … … … >3,805 1927 … … … … 3,560 1928 … … … … 3,737 I am informed that comparable figures are not available for earlier years, and
Industry. Estimated numbers insured at July, 1929. Insured persons unemployed at 24th February, 1930. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. Silk and Artificial Silk … 32,320 41,160 73,480 6,580 9,860 16,440 Lace … 6,500 10,420 16,920 776 920 1,696