§ 30 and 31. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the figures for mid-September give 1,825 men as being wholly unemployed and 3,000 as temporarily stopped in Coventry ; that the number of vacancies for men was 700 ; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this situation ;
(2) whether he is aware that the figures for mid-September give 794 women as being wholly unemployed and 58 as temporarily stopped in Coventry ; that the number of vacancies for women was 170 ; that, while 500 women are looking for jobs for the first time, it does mean that if all these vacancies were filled 682 women would still want work ; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this situation.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodFigures for mid-October show that the number of men registered as wholly unemployed in Coventry has decreased by nearly 300. As regards women, the employment position is more difficult, particularly since the majority of the women are married and their mobility, therefore, is limited. In addition to the 709 vacancies for men mentioned by the hon. Member, there are another 1,300 vacancies within a radius of twelve miles of the city. My local offices will continue their efforts to place these workers in employment.
§ Miss BurtonWhile I welcome this improvement in the position in relation to men, may I ask whether the Minister is aware that the position has got worse so far as women are concerned? Is he further aware that if we took the wholly unemployed figures for men, and if those wholly unemployed men filled all the vacancies available, we should still have 843 men in Coventry without jobs? Is he aware that if we took the corresponding figures for women, we should have 679 women without jobs? While appreciating the work that his Ministry has done in Coventry—and I pay tribute to 1237 it—may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can offer further help in the matter?
§ Mr. MacleodWith respect, I think that the hon. Lady is assuming that because someone has a house in Coventry, or in any other town, he can work only in that town. I do not think that follows at all, and particularly is it not true of Coventry, where there are large surrounding conurbations. In this instance, as I have said, there are no fewer than 1,300 vacancies in the immediate neighbourhood of Coventry, twice as many as there are in the city itself. Of course, we shall do everything we can, and I am glad to endorse the tribute which the hon. Lady has paid. I do not pretend that it is not a difficult problem, particularly for married women.
§ Miss BurtonMay I tell the right hon. Gentleman—because not all of his hon. Friends seem to understand—that I have talked to the unemployed men and women and it is not easy to pay fares to go to these jobs? There are real difficulties, and would he pay attention to that?
§ Mr. MacleodI did not say that there were not difficulties, but it would be an impossible freezing of the labour force of this country if the premises in the question of the hon. Lady were accepted.
§ 32. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that some of those unemployed in Coventry are unable to accept jobs elsewhere because the wage offered is insufficient to meet the cost of obligations and a home in Coventry while living elsewhere ; and if, therefore, he would be prepared to offer lodging allowances or some similar grant in such cases.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, Sir. The unemployment situation in Coventry and neighbouring areas is not such as to justify financial assistance from the Government of this kind.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Minister aware that there are men in Coventry who definitely cannot afford, without help, to take a job in another town and keep their own home going in Coventry while they live elsewhere? Does not he agree that it would be cheaper for the Government financially, and better morally, to help these men to find jobs?
§ Mr. MacleodThe facilities available were detailed in an Answer of mine, I think in June, to the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown). Those facilities are available for areas where the employment position is considered extremely poor and there is very little prospect of employment being obtained. Coventry, where the percentage rate of unemployment is 1.3, cannot conceivably come within any such definition.
Mr. LeeWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that where we have wholesale changes of the type that are now to take place in industry, it is the responsibility of the Government, not only to provide lodging allowances, but to make it possible for priorities to be given to displaced workers in the housing estates and areas into which they have to go in order to obtain employment?
§ Mr. MacleodThat is a very much bigger question. If the hon. Gentleman would care to follow out the logic of it, it would suggest that the Government should indicate who are to be at the top of local authority housing lists and that those who come in temporarily should have precedence over those who have established their position for many years.
Mr. LeeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am not making that point at all? I am trying to make the point that the local authorities cannot possibly know how automation—or call it what we will—in industries within their area will affect the personnel who require houses, and that if the Government would accept responsibility for that, they would be acting more in line with the policy required.
§ Mr. MacleodIf the hon. Gentleman would study the available figures, such as they are, and in particular figures which I will send him, which are the figures that we know so far of B.M.C. dismissals, he will see that in fact this problem is nothing like as large as he and other hon. Members have suggested.