Skip to main content

Unemployment

Volume 236: debated on Thursday 20 March 1930

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

Transferred Workers, Southwark

1.

asked the Minister off Labour how many miners who were transferred to the Borough of Southwark under the Transference Scheme are still in employment; and whether they are in the original positions to which they were sent?

Special efforts, which I think are generally successful, are made by the Exchanges to find other employment for transferred persons who become unemployed, but detailed records are not kept and I regret, therefore, that it is not possible to supply the statistics desired by my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of these positions which have been taken up by transferred workers are only temporary, and that the workers are now unemployed?

Insurance Fund (Debt)

4.

asked the Minister of Labour what will be the debt on 1st April of the Unemployment Insurance Fund if the index figure remains substantially the same as at present?

Assuming that the number on the Live Register remains substantially the same as at present, namely, £1,563,800 it is estimated that the debt of the Unemployment Fund on the 1st April, will be about £39,000,000. The abnormally high level of unemployment which has prevailed since the beginning of January caused a serious drain on the resources of the fund. The borrowing powers of the fund are at present limited to £40,000,000 and proposals for increasing this limit will be laid before Parliament at an early date.

Will these proposals be laid before Parliament before Easter, as we are now within £1,000,000 of our borrowing powers, and we may run short before Easter?

Training Schemes

5.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is taking any steps to develop the training side of the work of the Ministry of Labour; and, if so, if she will state the nature of them?

The training schemes administered by my Department are under constant review and every opportunity is being taken to extend them. Steps are being taken to open two new centres, providing additional accommodation for approximately 2,000 men per annum, for the training of men for employment in this country. As regards women, the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment have recently opened a residential centre at Leamington for the training of women in domestic service, and they have also under consideration plans to provide opportunities for women for whom training in domestic service is inappropriate. This is exclusive of the provision made for boys and girls.

Satisfactory as far as they go. I would willingly hasten them if I could.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that there is a great shortage of domestic servants, and will she take steps to carry out the necessary training?

Waterproof Garment Machinists

6.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of waterproof garment machinists who are now unemployed; and whether she is aware that in many districts it is very difficult to fill the requirements of manufacturers?

I regret that separate statistics are not available in respect of unemployment among waterproof garment machinists; but I am having inquiries made as to the alleged shortage of workers.

If applicants for certain posts give excuses, such as that an hour is not enough for lunch, and that eight o'clock is too early to start in the morning, do they still remain on the unemployment benefit?

I imagine that both those excuses would disqualify them from benefit.

Benefit

7.

asked the Minister of Labour the policy adopted by Employment Exchanges in respect of supplying labour to non-union works; whether workers are obliged to take up such employment if offered; and, if not, whether such employés are still regarded as genuinely seeking work?

Any stipulations made by the employer in this matter are brought to the notice of any workman to whom the employment is offered, and if he then refuses it the question whether he remains entitled to unemployment benefit is one for decision by the statutory authorities.

Bethnal Green

8.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons in Bethnal Green at any convenient date in February and March, 1928, 1929, and 1930, respectively?

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement:

Number of persons resident in the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green on the Registers of Employment Exchanges.

Date.Number.
13th February, 19282,491
12th March, 19282,320
11th February, 19292,979
11th March, 19292,947
17th February, 19303,389
10th March, 19303,456

Stirling And Falkirk

9.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed work- people on the register of the Stirling and Falkirk Employment Exchanges of the following classes: miners, bricklayers, masons, and general labourers, for the years 1927 to 1929?

Junior Instruction Centres

10.

asked the Minister of Labour how many training centres have been established in the county of London for unemployed insured juveniles; where are they located; what is the average attendance at them since January last; and whether she is satisfied that the centres are within reasonable distance of those required to attend?

There are two Junior Instruction Centres for unemployed boys and girls in the county of London. These centres are conducted by the London County Council in conjunction with day continuation schools at Turin Street, Bethnal Green Road, and at Herold's Institution, Bermondsey. The average daily attendance since the centres opened on 6th January has been 222 boys and 126 girls. Only those juveniles who live within a reasonable distance of these centres are required to attend. Fares are paid in certain cases.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that some of the young persons in the technical institute have to come from as far away as St. Pancras—this is rather a long way—and will she try to see if one or two more centres can be opened?

Is the curriculum of these training centres preliminary, or is it in a completed stage?

I am afraid that I do not quite understand what the hon. Member means. The curriculum is organised by the education authority of the London County Council.

Is not the Turin Street centre a great success, and greatly appreciated by those in training?

21.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there are any areas in the country where there are a considerable number of unemployed juveniles where there are no facilities in the way of training centres; if so, how many; and where are they located?

In 48 areas, a list of which I am sending to the hon. Member, junior instruction centres or classes are being maintained by the education authorities with the assistance of an Exchequer grant. These include most of the distressed mining areas and certain other areas in which unemployment among juveniles is both considerable and prolonged. As regards other areas, the Ministry is in negotiation with the local education authorities, whose co-operation, as the hon. Member knows, is essential. Owing to the way in which in many cases the figures vary within short periods, I cannot very well state how many areas are concerned, but I can assure the hon. Member that the matter is being actively pursued, in consultation with the National Advisory Councils for Juvenile Employment.

Employment Agency, Durham

12.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware that a large number of girls and boys from the north-eastern area have been placed in situations in the south of England through the special agency created for this purpose in Durham, and that the Labour Ministry has discontinued support to this agency; and if she can state the reason for this change of policy?

I have no official statistics with regard to the agency to which I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers. An officer of the Department was lent to assist the agency on a temporary basis from the 20th March, 1929, to the 2nd August, 1929, having regard to the special circumstances then existing: it was not considered justifiable to continue indefinitely an arrangement which involved the loan of a public official to a voluntary agency.

In view of the fact that nearly 3,000 untrained persons have been found situations through this agency in the south, is it not a pity to refuse assistance merely on account of red tape?

No. I think that, while I am not responsible for those statistics—which I accept from the hon. and gallant Gentleman—there are a number of voluntary agencies that have never yet applied for, or received public assistance.

Rating Relief

13.

asked the Minister of Labour if she can supply any information as to what has been the effect up to date of derating in lessening unemployment?

I regret that statistics are not available from which it would be possible to make an estimate on this point.

Coventry

14.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of registered unemployed in the City of Coventry on 11th March last; and what was the number on the corresponding date last year?

At 10th March, 1930, there were 5,516 persons on the register of the Coventry Employment Exchange including 3,167 wholly unemployed and 2,349 temporarily stopped. At 11th March, 1929, the corresponding total was 2,241, including 1,618 wholly unemployed and 623 temporarily stopped.

Is it a fact that the figures which the right hon. Lady has just given are the worst ever recorded for the month of March in the history of the City of Coventry, and has she drawn the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to his share of the responsibility for them?

Unstamped Insurance Cards, Luton

15.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the case of a Luton contractor who has been summoned for the non-stamping of six Sheffield workmen's unemployment insurance cards; and if she can state whether the workmen have suffered loss of benefit in consequence,

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am inquiring whether delay has been caused in the payment of unemployment benefit to any of the men concerned and will communicate with my hon. Friend.