§ Major PROCTERasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the violation of the agreements which were made with the approval of the Ministry of Labour between the employers and employés in the cotton industry; and whether he will consider the advisability of giving such agreements statutory effect?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am aware of the circumstances to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. I have endeavoured to assist the parties in their consideration of the position by an inquiry into the conditions operative in the mills in certain areas, and the facts thus ascertained have been communicated to the representatives of both sides. The 327W situation is receiving the anxious consideration of the organisations concerned, but, so far, no definite proposal for remedying the position acceptable to both sides has been made. I do not understand that the statutory regulation of working conditions is generally desired and, in these circumstances, while I am prepared to examine carefully any specific proposal made to me on behalf of the industry, I cannot usefully express any view on the suggestion made in the question.
Unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in London Administrative County and City. Employment Exchange. 23rd October, 1933. 24th October, 1932. Battersea 7,993 10,194 Bermondsey 4.731 7,082 Borough 13,178 15,234 Brixton 7,343 8,574 Camberwell 7,975 10,372 Camden Town 6,690 8,154 City 6,293 7,370 Denmark Street (London Hotel and Catering Trades) 742 746 Deptford 6,774 8,839 Edgware Road 10,051 12,727 Great Marlbro' Street 747 740 Hackney 9,284 12,027 Holloway 7,028 9,146 King's Cross 8,661 9,817 Lewisham 3,962 5,066 Poplar 8,212 9,742 Shepherds Bush 8,945 11,356 Shoreditch 7,949 10,036 Stepney 8,600 10,012 Tavistock Street (London Building Trades) 376 654 Tooting 4,526 5,933 Walham Green 7,468 9,085 Westminster 3,066 3,377 Woolwich 4,934 7,075 Total 155.528 193,358