asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of directing that Section 5 of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, shall apply to Dundee; and whether he will refer any representations made to this effect to the advisory committee appointed in pursuance of the said Section?

In order to take advantage of Section 5 of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, it is necessary to form a site company, by means of which assistance could be given in accordance with the provisions of the Section. This is a matter for local initiative, and, as soon as there is a reasonable prospect of a formation of a site company, formal representations should be made to me in accordance with Section 5 (2) of the Act for reference to the advisory committee.

If such representations are made to the right hon. Gentleman, will he, in considering them, bear in mind the fact that the setting up of trading estates in Special Areas, while no doubt an admirable measure in itself, greatly diminishes the chance of attracting new industries to other areas where there is higher unemployment?

I pointed that out at the time of the passing of the Act.

Would it not be better to protect the jute industry, rather than seek to introduce other industries?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in the industrial parts of Scotland it is very desirable that there should be a greater variety of industries?

There is no doubt about that.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that tariffs have almost taken the unemployment out of Dundee? The senior Member has told us that repeatedly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered a copy of a resolution adopted by the County Councils' Association calling upon the Government to increase the rates of unemployment benefit and of unemployment assistance so as to enable unemployed persons to maintain themselves and their families in a condition of physical efficiency; and what steps are being taken to give effect to the terms of the resolution?

I have considered a resolution upon this subject from the County Councils' Association. As regards benefit, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson) last Thursday. As regards unemployment assistance, the hon. Member will be aware that since November last all cases have been specially reviewed in the light of the rise in price of certain commodities together with the coming of the winter months, and that increases have been granted in a very large number of cases.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase in the cost of living has been more than twice as much as the increase in benefit?

I could not accept that general statement without a good deal of qualification.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase in the cost of living has been greater than the increase in benefit?

I am also aware that the rate of benefit is now higher than it was when the cost of living was higher at the time when the Labour Government was in office.

Is not the Minister aware that unemployed persons on statutory benefit and those coming under the Unemployment Assistance Board are worse off now than they were then?

I do not agree. I should say that they are better treated than has ever been the case in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour particulars of insured persons classified as belonging to the entertainment and sports group recorded as unemployed during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The average number of insured persons, aged 14–64 years, in the entertainments, sport, etc., industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain at dates from March, 1937, to February, 1938, was 23,421.

Could the Minister separate those engaged in the cinema industry from the general classification?

I could not do that without an analysis of every single case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that cases have occurred in the Western Isles of unemployed men being cut off benefit or unemployment assistance benefit allowance because, though they were open for local work, they refused to go to the mainland owing to their having to attend to aged relatives and a croft, and of poor wages offered with broken time for bad weather, and extra living deductions from wages through having to maintain their island homes as well as pay board and lodging where working; whether local officials have his approval in dealing in this way with these cases; and what action he now proposes to take to end demands of this kind upon the unemployed persons in the islands?

The hon. Member has sent me one or two cases, and I shall be happy to inquire into any others if he will give me particulars. But I ought to point out that, both for unemployment benefit and for unemployment assistance, an applicant must be available for work. Whether he is and whether a particular employment is suitable are matters for the statutory authorities under the Unemployment Insurance Acts or for the Unemployment Assistance Board, as the case may be, and I cannot intervene.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers and percentages of persons in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry unemployed in the country generally and in each of the shipbuilding centres, respectively, as at 13th December, 1937, and 17th January, 1938, respectively, or other convenient dates?

I am having this information extracted, and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as it is available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the percentages for Greenock and for the country generally?

I will answer the question precisely, and, if the hon. Member wishes for further particulars, I will see what I can do to give him supplementary information.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether the Government or the Commissioners for Special Areas have come to any decision in regard to financial help for the reconditioning of the Maryport harbour and dock;

(2) whether he is aware that the harbour commissioners at Maryport have given their employés notice to terminate their engagements; and whether the Government intend to take any action to prevent the closing of this port?

The question of a grant from the Special Areas Fund is under consideration, and I expect that a decision will be reached very shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed persons in Great Britain defined as seasonal workers, in 1936 and 1937, respectively?

The unemployment statistics compiled by my Department do not distinguish separately persons classified as seasonal workers. During the year 1936, 12,759 claims to benefit made at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain were considered by Courts of Referees under the Anomalies (Seasonal Workers) Order; of these, 2,176 were allowed and 10,583 disallowed. During the year 1937, 12,772 claims were considered, of which 1,810 were allowed and 10,962 disallowed.

In view of the very large proportion of disallowed cases in this category, and of the very healthy state of the Fund, would the Minister reconsider the whole position of these people who are described as seasonal workers, with a view to modifying the percentage of 75 demanded in the regulations?

The information in my possession does not lead me to take that view now. The hon. Member will recollect that two years ago I asked the committee to consider this case, and they did so. They recommended a modification, and the House made that modification, with the result that this proportion is one-third less than it was before.

Is a person classed as a seasonal worker according to the work done by that person, or according to the place at which the person works?

I should prefer to see that question in precise terms on the Paper, as it is a matter of legal definition.

May I take a specific case, and ask whether a waitress is a seasonal worker because she is a waitress, or because she works in a particular place?

It depends upon where she works?

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons in Glasgow who have been continuously unemployed for a period of three years or more?

At 14th February, 1938, there were 7,468 persons who had been continuously on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Glasgow as applicants for unemployment benefit or allowances for three years or more. A proportion of these persons had one or more short spells of employment, lasting not more than three days each, during that period. Corresponding figures are not available for persons registered as unemployed who were not applying for benefit or allowances.

With regard to the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, would he ask employers of labour to extend some sympathy to people who have suffered such long periods of unemployment should they find themselves in difficulty during the first few weeks after they have again obtained employment?

That point has been made before, and I have considered it in conjunction with some of my local committees.

What are the Government going to do about these people who have had long periods of unemployment? Is it the view of the Government that a person who has been unemployed for three years has finished with industry?

Not at all.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of unemployment insurance benefit and unemployment assistance, respectively, at the latest date available at Normanton, Castleford and Pontefract; and the comparative figures for the last two years?

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

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these figures show that unemployment is any less?