25 MARCH 1938, Page 3

* * * * The unemployment figures have increased by

471,217 since September of last year. With this ominous fact in mind the House addressed itself in Wednesday's debate to the problem of slump-prevention. Mr. Greenwood, who had fortified himself with quotations from all the major economists and a stray banker, lost nothing in effectiveness by the unwonted moderation of his language. He reiterated the plea, so often made by Sir Arthur Salter and others, for the preparation in advance of plans of national development. Mr. Ernest Brown, in reply, treated the House to a lengthy statistical survey of unemployment in various districts and trades, but shed no light at all on the Government's plans for the future.