HC Deb 21 February 1957 vol 565 cc587-9
36. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures in Coventry up to the latest convenient date in February; and what proportion this bears to the figure for January.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Three thousand, five hundred and fifty-one at 11th February, an increase of 16 per cent. compared with 14th January.

Miss Burton

Is the Minister aware that, as everyone in Coventry knows, these figures have shown a steady increase month after month, and will he himself come to Coventry to discuss with the trade unions and the employers the real situation that we are facing in that city?

Mr. Macleod

I do not want to be ungallant in declining, at the moment, the hon. Lady's invitation. Many hon. Members who have motor industries in their constituencies have extended similar invitations to me, and it just is not possible to accept them all; but my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has been to the Coventry and Birmingham areas twice in the last few weeks, and I am closely in touch with the situation. I shall not forget the invitation, and I will try to come sometime, but I cannot give any promise about the immediate future.

37. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Labour the number of vacancies registered at the Coventry Employment Exchange on 10th December, 1956, 14th January, 1957, and 11th February, 1957.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The total numbers of vacancies notified to the Coventry Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office and remaining unfilled were 1,024 at 12th December, 775 at 9th January and 723 at 6th February.

Miss Burton

Will not the Minister agree that it is a very serious position when month by month in Coventry we have an increase in the number of wholly unemployed and a decrease in the number of vacancies available? Would he not agree, as a matter of arithmetic, that if all these vacancies were filled we should still have a great number of unemployed? What steps do the Government propose to take to help the situation?

Mr. Macleod

I agree that the situation, as I have often said, is an anxious one. It is true that in Coventry and in many areas in the country the number of vacancies is now substantially below the number of unemployed. As I told the hon. Lady, I think a week or so ago, I am making a special inquiry into one or two of these matters, and I think she has a Question down for next week. Perhaps she will await the answer.

Miss Burton

Without wishing to be ungallant either, may I ask whether the Minister is aware that the position in Coventry is a great deal worse than in other places, because we depend on the motor industry? Is he further aware that the visit of the Parliamentary Secretary did not do the slightest good at all, and that I tried to put down a Question about it, and was not able to do so?

38. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is anxiety in Coventry over the duration of unemployment affecting many workers; and if he will state how many of the 2,288 at 10th December, 1956, the 3,066 at 14th January, 1957, and of those unemployed at the latest convenient date in February, have been out of work for four months or more.

Mr. Iain Macleod

An analysis according to duration of unemployment is obtained only at quarterly dates, the latest figures being those for 10th December. Of the total of 2,228 registered as unemployed in Coventry at that date, 513 had been continuously on the registers for more than three months and 167 for more than six months. A subdivision at four months is not available.

Miss Burton

Is the Minister aware that my information is that the duration of unemployment in Coventry of over four months and over six months is steadily increasing? Is the Minister aware that the figures for February show an even greater increase? In view of all that, is the right hon. Gentleman still not prepared to do something special for that city?

Mr. Macleod

The Question, as indeed my Answer shows, brings out the fact that the length of unemployment of the vast majority is fairly short-term. I have already answered in part as to whether special measures should be introduced, and I am answering in full later. In fairness, I think I should say, in response to what the hon. Lady said earlier about the visit of my Parliamentary Secretary, that I know that that is not so. I have had most excellent accounts from my regional officers and others of the value of that visit, and I am certain that we obtained a good deal of benefit from it.