Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons at on 13 March 1929.
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed in the building trade in England and Wales at the last available date; and how the figures compare with that date a year ago?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
Can the hon. Gentleman give the comparative figures for 1929 and 1928?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
I can give the total figures. The total figure in February, 1928, was 107,965, and in February, 1929, 179,903. Of course, it is obvious that the greater part of this increase is due to the very severe weather which prevailed in February of this year.
Sir Joseph Lamb
, Stone
Can my hon. Friend say whether the form he is publishing will show the difference between skilled and unskilled occupations?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
No, it does not show that. It shows the difference between the wholly unemployed and the temporarily stopped.
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
Will the hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Minister of Health to these figures and point out to him the necessity of increasing his building programme in order to help unemployment?
Sir Henry Betterton
, Rushcliffe
No doubt the hon. Member's question will be read by my right hon. Friend.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
