HC Deb 22 October 1942 vol 383 c2117W
Mr. R. Morgan

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in future, in setting out periodically the total number of unemployed, he will give the figure of those suffering from physical or other disability or only fit for light work so that the public may appreciate the exact position of these workers in the labour world.

Mr. Bevin

Precise information as to the number of unemployed suffering from physical or other disability is not available, since this would involve the medical examination of the majority of persons becoming unemployed. On 14th September, 1942, when an occupational analysis of the persons who were unemployed on that date was obtained, about 21,000 men were classified as general labourers for light unskilled work. In the majority of these cases the men were so classified because of their age or physical disability.