§ 43 and 44. Mr. Manuelasked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the number of unemployed registered in the Burgh of Irvine during the month of April, 1949; and what proportion of those unemployed during that month had been idle for one week or more;
(2) what was the number of unemployed registered in the Burgh of Irvine during the month of April last; and what proportion of those unemployed during that month had been idle for one week or more.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe number registered as unemployed at the Irvine employment exchange was 76 at 11th April, 1949, and 167 at 17th April, 1950. Figures showing the number who had been unemployed for one week or more are not available, but the number who had been continuously on the registers for more than two weeks at the dates in question were 37 and 126, respectively.
§ Mr. ManuelIs my right hon. Friend aware that the trade unions in this area are becoming rather perturbed at the increasing curve of unemployment arising chiefly from the fall off of work in the Royal Ordnance Factories, and will he devote some attention to it with a view to curing unemployment in that area?
§ Mr. IsaacsI am afraid that the trade unions must have misunderstood the position because, as I see the figures, they are not due to the factories mentioned, but cover a number of industries including coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, and so on.