HC Deb 19 May 1938 vol 336 cc548-9
4. Sir William Jenkins

asked the Minister of Labour what number of men, women, and boys are thrown out of employment in the tin and steel industry in the Neath Borough, Neath Rural District Council, and the Pontardawe District Council area for each month from January and the latest date in May; and is there any prospect of new industries coming into the area to absorb the unemployed?

Mr. E. Brown

As the answer to the first part of the question involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the available information as to the number of persons registered as unemployed in January, February, March and April this year; figures for May are not yet available.

As regards the second part of the question I would remind the hon. Member of the provisions of the Special Areas (Amendment) Act, 1937, which are designed to encourage the establishment of new industrial undertakings both in the Special Areas and in certain other areas of heavy unemployment.

Sir W. Jenkins

What steps are being taken to bring new industries into areas of this kind?

Mr. Brown

The answers are many and various, as the hon. Member knows. He also knows that I have recently seen a

Numbers of Insured Persons aged 16–64 years recorded as unemployed in the Steel Melting and Iron Puddling and Iron and Steel Rolling, etc., and Tinplate Industries at the Employment Exchanges at Clydach, Neath, Pontardawe, Resolven and Ystalyfera.
17th January, 1938. 14th February, 1938. 14th March, 1938. 4th April, 1938.
Employment Exchange. Department. Steel Melting and Iron Puddling, Iron and Steel Rolling, etc. Tin-Plates. Steel Melting and Iron Puddling, Iron and Steel Rolling, etc. Tin-Plates. Steel Melting and Iron Puddling, Iron and Steel Rolling, etc. Tin-Plates. Steel Melting and Iron Puddling, Iron and Steel Rolling, etc. Tin-Plates.
Clydach … Men … 7 97 12 182 26 130 25 197
Boys … — 5 — 9 — 7 — 12
Women … — 3 — 17 — 23 — 24
Girls … — — — — — — — 2
Total 7 105 12 208 26 160 25 235
Neath … Men … 816 941 599 1,225 200 1,090 539 1,246
Boys … 63 42 48 53 31 75 38 87
Women — 44 — 65 — 86 — 108
Girls … — 2 1 21 2 32 1 35
Total 879 1,029 648 1,364 233 1,283 578 1,476
Pontardawe Men … 11 355 20 506 231 700 252 729
Boys … — 18 — 39 — 60 — 78
Women — 2 — 3 — 30 — 32
Girls … — 1 — 1 — 9 — 10
Total 1l 376 20 549 231 799 252 849
Resolven … Men … — 41 — 26 — 53 — 54
Boys … — 2 — 5 — 5 — 2
Women — 4 — 5 — 5 — 4
Girls … — 1 — — — — — —
Total — 48 —' 36 — 63 — 60
Ystalyfera … Men … 1 516 1 386 — 527 1 534
Boys … — 41 — 34 — 34 — 46
Women — 53 — 73 — 48 — 54
Girls … — 20 — 22 — 19 — 24
Total 1 630 1 515 — 628 1 658
Total all Employment Exchanges. Men … 835 l,950 632 2,325 457 2,500 817 2,760
Boys … 63 108 48 140 31 181 38 225
Women — 106 — 163 — 192 — 222
Girls … — 24 1 44 2 60 1 71
Total 898 2,188 681 2,672 490 2,933 856 3,278