HC Deb 29 January 1957 vol 563 cc836-7
24. Mr. Marquand

asked the Minister of Labour the total of vacancies for skilled labour in the steel, chemical, engineering, shipbuilding, and clothing industries notified to the employment exchanges on Tees-side; and whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of vacancies in each of these industries separately.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The available statistics relate to all grades of labour in each industry, and separate figures for skilled labour are not compiled. The total number of vacancies in the steel, chemical, engineering, shipbuilding and clothing industries notified to employment exchanges on Tees-side and remaining unfilled at 9th January, 1957, was 848. I am circulating a detailed table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Marquand

Although the right hon. Gentleman's quotable figures do not include specific details about skilled labour, may I ask whether he is aware that there is a great shortage of skilled labour in these industries at a time when there is unemployment among similar types of labour elsewhere in the country? Is he further aware that it is the shortage of housing, caused by the Government's slowing down of the housing programme, which is causing the difficulty, and is he in touch with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government about the problem?

Mr. Macleod

The hon. Member's supplementary question, of course, goes a long way. It is perfectly true that there is great pressure on skilled labour in that area, and that, indeed, is true—whatever pockets of difficulty there may be—of many other areas as well. I entirely agree that accommodation is one of the particular snags that one has to overcome in ensuring some reasonable amount of mobility of labour in the community. We do what we can and I have detailed, in response to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Belper (Mr. G. Brown), the particular measures available to ease that problem.

Following is the table:

NUMBERS OF VACANCIES IN THE UNDERMENTIONED INDUSTRIES NOTIFIED TO EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES ON TEES-SIDE AND REMAINING UNFILLED AT 9TH JANUARY, 1957
Industry Group Males Females Total
Steel melting, rolling, etc. 232 6 238
Chemicals and allied trades 401 15 416
Engineering 65 7 72
Shipbuilding and ship-repairing 67 6 73
Clothing 4 45 49