HC Deb 15 March 1939 vol 345 cc419-21W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour how many applicants in the Stoke,

and what is the total number of persons attending?

Mr. E. Brown

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the Instructional Centres. The following table gives the required information.

Fenton, and Longton areas, respectively, are in receipt of extra winter relief; what is the percentage of the total applicants for assistance; and what is the average percentage throughout the country?

Mr. E. Brown

The latest date in respect of which information is available is 21st November last. On that date in the Unemployment Assistance Board's administrative area of Stoke-on-Trent, which covers the towns of Fenton and Longton, the number of winter additions authorised was 1,656, equivalent to 51½ per cent, of the number of assessments for unemployment allowances then cur rent. The corresponding percentage for the whole country was 501½.

Mr. Ellis

Smith asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the percentage of applicants in the country for assistance who receive more than the scales and the percentage in the Hanley administrative area and the Stoke, Fenton and Longton areas, respectively; and what is the average paid nationally and the average in the Hanley administrative area and the Stoke, Fenton and Longton areas, respectively?

Mr. E. Brown

Such information as is available is based on a sample of cases current at the beginning of October, 1938. This sample indicates that in the Board's administrative district of Hanley, which includes the Hanley and Stoke-on-Trent administrative areas (the latter covering the towns of Fenton and Longton) approximately 431½per cent, of assessments included a discretionary addition of an average value of 3s. 9d. a week. The corresponding figures for the whole country were 43 per cent, and 3s. 5d. respectively. While the sample gives reasonably accurate results in relation to a district as a whole, it is not sufficiently large to be used as a basis for separate statistics for individual areas.