asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of unemployed, or partially unemployed persons, in the country at the present date; and how long a period has elapsed since the figures last stood at the present level?

At 17th February, 1930, there were 1,523,941 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, including 1,087,660 wholly unemployed, 347,401 temporarily stopped and 88,880 casual workers. This total was last exceeded on 15th November, 1926.

Is it not the case that there has not been so many persons unemployed in Great Britain since the disastrous days of the General Strike?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that a large number of employers are deliberately shutting down their factories?