§ 27. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Labour the unemployment figures in Coventry up to the latest convenient date in January; and what proportion this bears to the figure for December.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThree thousand and sixty-six, at 14th January, compared with 2,228 at 10th December.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Minister aware that my figures from the unions on 17th January were, I am very sorry to say, even worse than his? Would he not feel able to come to Coventry himself to look into these matters? For example, is he aware that many of these recent dismissals are among men with thirty and forty years' service, and that the National 840 Union of Vehicle Builders is very worried about the chances of any of these men who are over 60 years of age getting jobs again? We should like him to come—would he consider it?
§ Mr. MacleodI will certainly consider it. If there is any discrepancy in the figures, it is likely that those compiled through the employment exchanges are accurate; but I do not think that there is much dispute between us as to the figures. I think that it is most important to remember in this, as in all other questions, that we are approaching—indeed, we are now just about at—the seasonal peak of unemployment. In every year since the war there has been an average increase of about 45,000 to 50,000—that sort of figure—in these two months. I have said, and I repeat it, that the petrol and oil restrictions, and other complications, will this year add slightly, or, perhaps, considerably to these figures, but when we look at the figures of unemployment we should bear in mind the normal position every year in these months.
Mr. LeeDo I take it from that Answer that the Minister envisages a decline from now on in the figures of unemployment and part-time working? If not, to what extent does he believe the oil position will alter the usual pattern?
§ Mr. MacleodNo, I cannot prophesy that. In some years the February figure is rather higher than January and, in others, rather lower. It depends, for example, on the sort of weather we are going to get, and, obviously, I cannot prophesy that. The weather has a considerable effect on the building trade. We have, in fact, been rather lucky so far as January is concerned. But the employment situation does depend also on the availability of fuel supplies to industry. The position has been announced as being safe until the end of February, and I think that in a day or two my noble Friend the Minister of Power will make a statement about March supplies.