Oral Answers to Questions — Unemployment. – in the House of Commons am ar 8 Gorffennaf 1925.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest number available of theatrical employés out of employment.; and how many of these are drawing unemployment benefit?
Mr Arthur Steel-Maitland
, Birmingham Erdington
The number of musicians, actors, and theatre, music-hall and cinema employés registered at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain on 1st June, 1925, the latest date available, was 3,402 (men, 3,168; women, 1,234). Without making a special investigation it is not possible to say definitely how many of these are in receipt of unemployment benefit, but it is estimated that about 2,850 (men, 1,900, and women, 950) would have had current claims to benefit at that date.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these people are thrown out of work because soldiers have been employed in their spare time to take their places in the West End?
Mr Arthur Steel-Maitland
, Birmingham Erdington
I am not aware of that to any appreciable extent.
Mr John Clynes
, Manchester Platting
Is there any figure to show what proportion that figure bears to the total number of employés?
Mr Arthur Steel-Maitland
, Birmingham Erdington
I asked that question for my own satisfaction, but I found that for these particular trades there is no census figure available.
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.
