§ Mr. John E. Haireasked the Minister of Labour if the will give figures of employment and unemployment, suitably classified, to the nearest convenient date, as compared with a year ago, for the principal industries in the High Wycombe area.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe available statistics relate to persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts. The numbers insured are ascertained once a year in respect of the beginning of July, but the figures for 1947 are not yet available. I will, however, send them to my hon. Friend at the earliest moment. The following table gives the estimated numbers of insured men and women in employment in the area of the High Wycombe employment exchange at mid-1946, distinguishing the principal industries, together with the numbers registered as unemployed in June, 1946, and June, 1947.
69W
Industry. Estimated number of insured men and women in employment mid-1946. Numbers unemployed June, 1946. June, 1947. Building 790 1 3 Engineering, etc. 1,440 18 15 Construction and repair of motor vehicles, cycles and aircraft 650 25 6 Sawmilling and machined woodwork 330 2 5 Furniture making, upholstering, etc. 5,040 14 31 Electric apparatus, cable, lamps, etc. 1,420 1 5 Hotel, boarding house, restaurant, club, catering, etc., service 420 2 3 Paper and paper board making 700 1 1 Printing, publishing and bookbinding 380 2 1 Distributive trades 1,870 3 7 National government service 880 8 8 Local government service 340 4 6 Agriculture, etc. 910 1 1 All other industries and service 3,430 31 42 Total, all industries and services 18,600 113 134 Note.—The figures relate to men aged 18 and under 65 and women aged 18 and under 60 years Corresponding figures in respect of juveniles are not available
§ Mr. John E. Haireasked the Minister of Labour the number of skilled and unskilled building trade operatives employed in the High Wycombe borough and rural areas, classified into British and foreign.
§ Mr. IsaacsAt mid-1946, the latest date for which figures are at present available it is estimated that there were approximately 780 insured men aged 18 and under 65 classified as employed in the building industry in the area of the High Wycombe employment exchange, of whom 470 were building craftsmen (carpenters, bricklayers, slaters, plasterers, painters, plumbers, gasfitters, etc.), 270 were labourers, and 40 were other workers, including clerical and administrative staffs. Separate figures are not available for British and foreign workers.