asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed building trade workers registered in Liverpool at the end of December, 1949, and the end of February, 1950, respectively.

The figures were 1,791 at 5th December and 2,142 at 13th February. Figures are not available for the end of any month.

Can my right hon. Friend say what percentage of the unemployed at those dates were trained men, as against labourers?

I could not say offhand, but I shall be very glad to get the information and send it to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed ship-repair workers registered in Liverpool at the end of December, 1949, and the end of February, 1950, respectively.

Separate figures are not available for the ship-repairing industry, but for the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry as a whole the figures were 2,496 at 5th December and 3,171 at 13th February.

Can the Minister tell me whether any progress has been made with the inquiry into ship-repairing?

No, Sir, I cannot say that we are in a position to give any definite result of the inquiry, but my hon. Friend and the House will recall that this is an inquiry to cover the whole of the ship-repairing and shipbuilding area. As soon as I get information I will let the House have it.

Is there any duplication in registration, in view of the fact that men of the same trade work in other industries?

There may be a little duplication, but there is not likely to be much.

asked the Minister of Labour how many bricklayers were registered as unemployed in Liverpool at the end of October, 1949, the end of December, 1949, and the end of February, 1950, respectively.

The figures were 43 at 15th October, 41 at 5th December, and 76 at 13th February.

Will my right hon. Friend note that we have had an inquiry made in the area whether the difficulty in the trade is due to the shortage of bricklayers, and that some firms are not making the necessary applications for labour?