asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the amount of unemployment in Cowes and East Cowes, Isle of Wight, he can send an immediate order for naval construction or naval repair to those towns?

The firms in the district referred to, that are on the Admiralty lists, are invited to tender for all new work suitable to their capacity, and orders have only in the last few days been placed for work that will take four to five months to complete.

In order to provide what hon. Members opposite call "useful employment," would the hon. Member take into account the possibility of sinking two or three battleships?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience caused to dock and other casual labourers by the present method of administrating the Unemployment Insurance Act; if he is aware that where a man has signed on for two or three days in the week as out of work, he actually loses by accepting employment on the third or fourth day; and whether he will endeavour to arrive at some other arrangement?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the case of men working two and three days or only part of the week, the whole of the unemployment allowance is withheld; and whether, seeing that it is a national advantage for men to work part of a week, he will consider whether a proportional part of the weekly allowance for the unemployed could be allowed to such part-time workers?

In accordance with Section 7 (2, b) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, persons working on one or two days only in the week can ordinarily qualify for unemployment benefit in respect of the other days, but not those working on three days in the week. Applicants do not lose their tight to unemployment benefit for previous days by accepting employment for one day or two days, provided that they are then unemployed for at least two days. The rules in this connection cannot be altered without fresh legislation, but I am having their working examined with the object of seeing whether any amendment can justifiably be proposed.

If something can be done by legislation, would it be possible to bring in a short agreed Bill this Session to get rid of these anomalies?

The difficulties involved, as my hon. and gallant Friend knows, are very considerable. We have had the matter under consideration for some time and I cannot hold out any hope that we shall come to an immediate solution, and therefore I think that it would be unfair to suggest legislation in this short Session, but I am pressing inquiry into the matter and I shall be happy to have another word with my hon. and gallant Friend about it.

Is it not a fact that notwithstanding the six days' qualifying period, there are cases of men idle six days of the week who, because they are employed overtime for two hours, after the end of the six days, are, though compelled to pay contributions, disqualified? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to give facilities to have an inquiry to remove the anomalies now existing?

If my hon. Friend can assist me in an inquiry, with employers and employed, to come to some solution of this difficulty, I shall be only too pleased.

It is a very important question, and—[HON, MEMBERS: "Order!"].

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the long periods spent by unemployed workmen in Hull and other centres in waiting in queues for the unemployed insurance payments on Fridays; and whether he will make arrangements for payments to be made to the men in smaller batches on every day of the week, except Sundays, instead of the present arrangement?

In all Exchanges at which there are large numbers of unemployed, applicants are divided into half-hourly or hourly groups, and by this means queues have, in nearly all cases, been eliminated. At Hull there are special difficulties owing to limited premises, but steps are being taken to improve the accommodation, and meanwhile I am having arrangements made which will, I hope, reduce the time spent by applicants. Payment is already, made on two days of the week, and with the adjustments of accommodation proposed I hope this should be sufficient.

In thanking my right hon. Friend for the answer I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on Monday on the adjournment, when an opportunity occurs for discussing these points.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers in the various branches of the building trade who were unemployed in October and the total amount of unemployment benefit paid to them?

The number of unemployed building operatives on 23rd October, 1922, as shown by unemployment books lodged at Employment Exchanges, was 118,739. I am circulating particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It is estimated that for the four pay-weeks falling within the month of October these persons received about £260,000 in benefit.

Would my right hon. Friend, in his capacity as Minister of Health, consult himself as to whether it would not be more profitable to spend that money on building houses rather than on paying men for doing nothing?

As my hon. Friend knows, the matter is a very difficult one, but it is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of tin miners who are at present unemployed in Cornwall; and the average weekly amount which is being paid to such unemployed miners by way of unemployment benefits?

The number of persons registered as tin miners and tin streamers at Employment Exchanges in Cornwall at the beginning of November was 1,949. The average weekly payment of unemployment benefit is estimated to be about £1,060.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the estimated cost of the maintenance of the Employment Exchanges at the present date, the number of registered unemployed, the number of genuinely placed cases recorded on the books of the Exchanges during the last three months, and what proportion of those so placed have been due to the efforts of the Employment Exchanges as compared with the total which have secured work through sources other than that of the Employment Exchanges?

The estimated cost of the Employment Exchanges and divisional offices for the year 1922–23 is approximately £3,975,000, including rent, stationery, etc., as well as cost of staff. Of this cost about £3,776,000 is attributable to the administration of Unemployment Insurance, including the offering of employment to insured persons, and is paid by the Unemployment Fund. The balance of about £200,000 is paid by the Treasury, and includes the cost of work done by the Exchanges, for example, in connection with the King's Roll scheme and overseas settlement. The number of vacancies filled by the Employment Exchanges during the three months ended 6th November last, exclusive of those in certain casual occupations, was 143,580. I have no means of estimating the number who have secured work through other sources.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of industrial workers insured for sickness and for unemployment, respectively; how many are exempt from payment of contributions for the latter, and the grounds upon which such exemption has been granted: if he will state separately the number of public servants, i.e., civil servants and municipal employés, who are not contributing to Unemployment Insurance; and whether he can give an estimate of the number of salaried persons in industry, commerce, and public services who are not contributing to the maintenance, through insurance, of the compulsorily unemployed?

As this reply involves a good many figures I will, with my right hon. Friend's consent, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there is no Employment Exchange at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire; that there are over 1,000 unemployed in this area; that it is a very scattered district; that this is the second winter that these people have had to face unemployment with worn-out clothes and footwear; that they have to go to Brynmawr or Blaina three times per week, very often in heavy rain, to register and to receive their unemployment pay; and will he, to alleviate this suffering as much as possible, take steps to have an Employment Exchange opened at Nantyglo!

The number of unemployed men residing in Nantyglo and registered at Brynmawr and Blaina is about 600, and I understand that the greatest distance between their homes and the nearest Employment Office, at Brynmawr or Blaina, is a mile and a half. In these circumstances I do not consider that the opening of a new office would be justified, but it has been arranged that, after the end of the present week, residents at Nantyglo need attend only twice a week for the time being.

asked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether his medical returns show any increase in public sickness due to unemployment and reduced wages; and, if so, where these evidences are most manifested?

Some indication of the amount of sickness of all kinds amongst the employed population of the country is furnished by the returns of expenditure by approved societies on sickness benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts. From these it appears that there was an increase in the number of weeks for which benefit was paid in 1921 as compared with the previous year of 1·4 per cent, in the case of men and 8·4 per cent, in the case of women. Many factors must, however, be borne in mind in making a comparison between the figures for the two years and, in particular, the serious epidemic of influenza about, the end of the year 1921. The material in the possession of the Ministry does not make it possible to state to what extent the increase may have been attributable to the causes referred to by the hon. Member, nor to give comparative figures for different parts of the country.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of assistance already afforded schemes of relief through the agency of the Unemployment Grants Committee this winter; and whether any available funds and, if so, how much still remain for this purpose?

The Committee have passed schemes for this winter of a capital cost of £4,709,000 and funds are available for further schemes to bring the total to £12,000,000.

What is the general Cabinet policy on the question of unemployment relief?

We shall have that to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total average weekly sum now being paid out in unemployed insurance payments, relief works, and all other means for the relief of the unemployed workers?

The weekly sum now being paid in unemployment benefit is about £890,000. The other items cannot be expressed as average weekly sums, at any rate not without elaborate and diffi- cult inquiry, but a full statement with regard to them will be made at the appropriate time during the Debate on the Address.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in regard to schemes to which the Unemployed Grants Committee has contributed, he can state the total cost of completed schemes, the amount contributed by the Committee, and what amount of the total cost has gone to labour that would otherwise have been unemployed?

The total cost of the schemes passed by the Committee is nearly £33,000,000; a large part of this work has been completed, but much is still in hand. The grants in respect of this sum may be estimated at about £10,000,000. Exact information of the amount paid to labour is not available, but it is calculated that, directly and indirectly, about £26,000,000 of the total will have been expended on labour.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intends to consider in the Session of 1923 the introduction of insurance by industries; and whether, in that case, it intends first to establish public inquiry as to the best procedure to be adopted?

I do not think there is any possibility of dealing with this subject next year, but it is one in regard to the examination of which preliminary steps are now being taken.

asked the Minister of Labour why the six schemes prepared by the Leicester local authorities which would have provided work for a thousand men at present out of employment in that city have been turned down by the Government, especially in view of the fact that unemployment has not decreased in Leicester during the last year; and, in view of the coming winter and the fact that the bad outlook in the shoe trade will tend to increase the numbers of unemployed, will he favourably consider one of the schemes presented by the local authorities which were drawn up at the request of the Ministry?

The Unemployment Grants Committee, after fully considering the facts, came to the conclusion that the unemployment in Leicester did not warrant the giving of grants in respect of the schemes. Should unemployment in Leicester increase, the Committee will be fully prepared to reconsider their decision.

Would the hon. and gallant Gentleman give me his assurance that in considering these schemes Leicester City should receive a grant in proportion to the number of unemployed in that city?

I will give my hon. and gallant Friend the assurance that I will report his desire to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he can state for the end of October in 1920, 1921, and 1922 the number of persons per 1,000 of the population who were receiving out relief in the township of Sheffield, the township of Ecclesall, the parish of Tinsley, and in such part of the township or parish of Wortley as is within the boundary of the city of Sheffield?

The reply to this question can most conveniently be given in a tabular form, and I propose, with permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the cases of youths over school age and between the ages of 15 and 21 years who are unable to obtain work, the general policy of the Ministry is to withhold all unemployment pay if they have not previously been in employment, and to refer them for their maintenance to their parents; whether the question of advancing to such youths some unemployment allowance has been under consideration; whether there are any insuperable objections to such payments to youths who, through no fault of their own, have not been employed; and whether he will consider the question of some relief, especially as the present policy bears hardly on many parents who themselves are in receipt of unemployment allowances?

The Unemployment Insurance Acts do not permit of the payment of benefit to youths who have not previously been in employment, and, having regard to the contributory basis of the unemployment insurance scheme, I do not think I should be justified in proposing the legislation which would be necessary before benefit could be paid in such cases.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons under the age of 21 were registered as unemployed during the week ending 31st January, 1922, and the week ending 31st October, 1922; and whether, in view of the mental, moral, and physical deterioration such young people must be passing through, he will confer with the Minister of Education as to how best to provide for them suitable facilities for education and recreation?

The numbers of boys and girls of ages up to 18 on the Live Registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were 111,138 on 31st January, 1922, and 78,776 on 30th October, 1922. Separate figures cannot be given for those between 18 and 21. The question whether any special steps can be taken for the benefit of unemployed boys and girls is receiving the careful consideration of the Government.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman hurry up the consideration of this question in view of the fact that at each school ending stage another set of boys and girls are tumbled out on to the labour market?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, will he consider any money spent on these children not as waste but as national economy?

The considerations contained in the two supplementary questions are present in my mind, and any money that is devoted to this object will certainly be used to the best possible purpose.

May I ask what proportion of these young people are girls, and what steps are being taken in view of the shortage of domestic servants?

That; is too large a matter for a supplementary question.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men and women in the county of London registered during the last four weeks; and whether the numbers show an increase or decrease compared with the same weeks last year?

During the four weeks ended 6th November, 1922, 68,860 men and 18,633 women registered themselves at Employment Exchanges in the Greater London area, as compared with—and I would ask the House to pay particular attention to this—97,697 men and 31,370 women in the four weeks ended 4th November, 1921.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the six industries in London in which the greatest number of unemployed are registered at the present time; and will he state if unemployment is generally bad in these industries at this time of the year?

The six industries in London in which the greatest number of unemployed are registered at the present time are building, engineering and ironfounding, the distributive trades, dock labour, road transport (other than trams and omnibuses), and food and drink manufacture. With the exception of the building trades, these trades do not usually suffer to any marked extent from seasonal depression at this time of the year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Minister of Health, whom he also represents, to the fact that there is a large number out of work in the building trade and that there is a serious shortage of houses in the county of London?

I have the best of reasons for knowing that that consideration is present to the mind of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the state of destitution to which many families have been brought by prolonged unemployment, he will arrange for the allowances to the unemployed and their dependants being doubled for Christmas week?

The rates of unemployment benefit are fixed by statute, and I fear I am unable, therefore, to increase them for Christmas week.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to ascertain whether there is a shortage in this country of any of the goods required to satisfy the needs and comforts of the entire population, with a view to the unemployed workers being organised for the production of such goods; and will he consider, should investigation reveal that there is no shortage but, on the contrary, abundance, how the system of distribution, particularly among the working classes of this country, can be improved so that it may keep pace with production?

I have no machinery at my disposal for ascertaining the information required in the first part of the question. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture informed the House last Monday, an inquiry as to the distribution of the most important section of consumable goods, namely, foodstuffs, is being taken in hand, and the results of this inquiry will no doubt throw much light on the whole question of the efficiency of the present system of distribution.

In the event of the investigation proving that there is no shortage, may I take it that the Government will depart from the policy of allowing people to starve in the midst of plenty?

I do not think that arises out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether his Department has refused to allow payment of the full trade union rate of wages to the unemployed engaged on relief work in Birmingham; what is the reason for this; and whether the city council can now be allowed to pay the balance of 25 per cent, to bring up wages to the full amount?

It is a condition of a grant by the Unemployment Grants Committee that, where the work is carried out by direct labour, the rate of wages paid for unskilled labour must not, for a probationary period of six months, exceed 75 per cent, of the local authority's rate for unskilled labour. This condition was made after full consideration, and cannot be waived if the grant is to be paid.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Ministry have made exceptions in these eases on the understanding that the men so engaged shall be capable and competent to do the work, and, therefore, capable of earning the money in the ordinary way?

I am aware of that fact. My right hon. Friend is considering the whole matter, but it is the considered judgment which I have reported to the House.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present amount of indebtedness of the Unemployment Insurance Fund; and whether he can present a statement showing the weekly receipts of the fund and the amount paid out weekly in benefits?

The amount borrowed by the Unemployment Fund is at present £14,550,000. For the week ending 17th November, the income of the Unemployment Fund was approximately £847,500, made up as follows:

Contributions by employers and employed	£625,000
Contributions by the State	£222,500

The expenditure for the same week, on unemployment benefit was £888,000, to which should be added about £99,000 for administrative expenses (11 per cent, of the average weekly income), together with £21,000 for interest on the loan and other items, making a total of £1,008,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can furnish an estimate of the number of unemployed persons in Great Britain who are not insured against unemployment?

I have no material on which to base an estimate of the number of uninsured workpeople who are unemployed. I can only say that the number registered at the Employment Exchanges is about 32,000.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men, women, and girls formerly employed in the lace trade and allied industries in the Nottingham and Long Eaton areas are out of employment?

At 23rd October the numbers of unemployed persons in the lace trade, as shown by unemployment books lodged at Employment Exchanges, were as follow: