asked the Minister of Labour whether consideration is being given to the need to change the administration of the means test or abolish the test?

I have nothing to add to the replies given to similar Questions by the hon. Member on 16th November and 25th January.

Does that mean that the Government will give consideration to this matter?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement regarding unemployment in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry in the Greenock area and in the country generally?

I am in consultation with the organisations of employers and workpeople in the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry on the general problem of labour supply. The absorption of suitable unemployed workers registered in shipbuilding and ship repairing occupations is one of the questions under discussion, and both employers' and work-peoples' representatives have undertaken to co-operate with my Department in a special examination of the industrial capacity of such men.

Is the right hon. Gentleman having a review made of the men unemployed in this industry, particularly in Greenock, and for the purpose of finding out how many have been unemployed for a long time, and who really do not belong to this industry; and is he taking special measures in such cases to train the men for employment?

In the consultations to which I have referred, a specific examination is being made of these matters, not merely in Greenock but in every place concerned.

When does the Minister expect to be able to make a statement as to the number of unemployed shipyard workers who have been absorbed in the shipuilding industry?

I have made a number of statistics available. There is very rapid absorption of unemployed shipbuilding workers.

Is not the Minister aware that the last available figures showed that more than 16,000 shipyard workers were unemployed? Is not that unsatisfactory?

The last available figures, those of 12th March, showed 12,500 unemployed.

Those are later figures.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in considering claims for unemployment assistance from insured persons, information is obtained as to whether benefit has been stopped on the ground of unreasonable refusal to accept an offer of employment; where this is so, does the fact debar the applicant from unemployment assistance or influence the amount granted; and is any record kept of the number of such cases?

I am informed that it is the practice of the Board's officers, in cases where an application for assistance is received from a person whose unemployment benefit has been stopped, to ascertain from the local office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service the reason for the stoppage. Where the bene- fit has been stopped on the ground of unreasonable refusal of an offer of suitable employment, assistance is not necessarily refused, but the amount of any allowance granted may be adjusted in the light of all the circumstances of the individual case. The Board's policy in this matter is explained on page 29–30 of their Annual Report for 1937. With regard to the last part of the Question, no record is kept of the number of such cases.

Am I right in thinking that where it is a question of statutory benefit, the benefit is always stopped in case of unreasonable refusal, and does the reply indicate that people who apply for unemployment assistance are in a more favourable position than people who apply for benefit?

Not at all. There is statutory machinery for those on benefit, and that machinery operates in every case, with a right of appeal. Where assistance is given, the amount may be adjusted in the light of all the circumstances of the individual case.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to ascertain the whereabouts of the 47,555 farm workers registered as unemployed; and whether he will instruct the Employment Exchanges to keep branches of the National Farmers' Union informed so as to provide the much-needed labour on the land?

The total of farm workers registered as unemployed to which the hon. Member refers related to 12th February and included many persons temporarily unemployed owing to weather conditions. The total on 11th March was 20,217. Any farmer requiring workers should notify the nearest local office of my Department when the normal procedure will enable him to be put in touch with any worker on the register who may be suitable. My Department works in close co-operation with the county war agricultural executive committees and through my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, I am in constant touch with the National Farmers' Union, but I should be happy to arrange any additional form of co-operation that might be helpful.

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate the point that there are in the towns many young fellows of 18 years of age and upwards who, before being called up, would be glad to work on the land? Do the Employment Exchanges give those young fellows the information needed to put them in touch with the farmers?

The Question on the Paper refers specifically to registered farm workers.

What proportion of the 20,217 referred to are skilled men?

I cannot answer that question without notice. The House will see that, compared with the 750,000 insured persons, the figure of 20,217 represents an infinitesimal fraction.

Are those farm workers registered as unemployed spread evenly over the country, or is there any area in which the number is particularly large?

The latest figures seem to show that there is a large proportion in parts of Wales and elsewhere.

May I ask whether, in the light of the statement made yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, the right hon. Gentleman is prepared to take every step forthwith to see that skilled agricultural workers return to the land, whether they are on military service or not?

That is not my responsibility.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of wholly unemployed registered at Castleford, Normanton and Pontefract on the latest date available; and how these figures compare with the end of August, 1939?

I am having the available figures extracted and will forward them to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

In areas where unemployment has not been reduced a great deal since the beginning of the war, have any special inquiries been made with a view to seeing that some of these men are absorbed into industry?

Certainly.