asked the Minister of Labour what was the number last year in the United Kingdom of persons employed by the brewing, whisky, distilling and tobacco manufacturers?

As the reply is somewhat long, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can we have the total?

Has the Minister applied the policy of transference to these industries?

That does not arise on this question.

Following is the reply:

Statistics of the numbers of persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts in the various industries are prepared once a year on the basis of information derived from the exchange of unemployment books in July. Separate figures are not available in respect of brewing and whisky distilling, as these industries are included for statistical purposes with others such as aerated water and wine manufacture, to form one industrial group covering all the drink industries. Similarly, tobacco manufacture is included in one group with the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes and snuff. It is estimated that at July, 1927, the number of insured persons aged 16 to 64 in Great Britain and Northern Ireland classified as belonging to the drink group was 109,100, and at July, 1928, the number was 107,320. Corresponding figures for the tobacco group are 42,790 at July, 1927, and 44,050 at July, 1928.