§ 20. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Labour how many persons 191 registered as unemployed in the boroughs of Kingston-upon-Thames, Surbiton, and Malden and Coombe respectively, with separate figures for men and women, as at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe numbers of insured persons registered as unemployed at the Kingston-upon-Thames employment exchange at 12th April, 1948, were 475 males and 178 females. Residents in Surbiton and Malden and Coombe register at the Kingston employment exchange when unemployed, and separate figures for these two boroughs are not available.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the right hon. Gentleman reconcile these highly disquieting figures with the assurance he gave me a fortnight ago that no unemployment was expected in this area as a result of the removal of Messrs. Leyland's works?
§ Mr. IsaacsKnowing something about this area, I should like to assure the hon. Gentleman—and this is a point which he will appreciate—that in all probability those people who register at the employment exchange do not work in the area. They may be people living there but working in London. On the other hand, the unemployed registering there are 1½ per cent. for males and 1 per cent. for females, which is very considerably below the national average.
§ Sir W. DarlingCould the right hon. Gentleman tell us how it is that he is able to give these detailed figures about Kingston-upon-Thames, Surbiton, and Malden and Coombe respectively, and is unable to give any detailed figures about unemployed persons in Scotland?
§ Mr. IsaacsIt was not a question of being unable to get them, but I did not want to burden hon. Members with a number of figures that they could read in HANSARD tomorrow.