HC Deb 25 November 1948 vol 458 cc140-1W
Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Labour to state the numbers, the highest and lowest figures and giving the dates on which they occurred of persons registered since 1918 as unemployed, stating men, women, boys and girls separately and collectively, and the corresponding figures at the latest known date.

Mr. Isaacs

Unemployment was highest on 23rd January, 1933, and lowest on 17th July, 1944. The figures for these dates and for 11th October, 1948, are given in the following Table:

Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage unemployment rate for Wales as compared with England at the latest known date.

Mr. Isaacs

At 14th June, 1948, the rate of unemployment in Wales was 5½ per cent. compared with 1½in England. It will not be possible to compute corresponding rates of unemployment for later dates until the statistics of the industrial population, as shown by the numbers of cards issued under the National Insurance scheme, become available about the end of the year.