§ 6. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is anxiety in Coventry concerning the duration of unemployment, both male and female, that the figure for the quarter ended in June was 244 men and 63 women out of work for more than six months, and that these had increased, respectively, to 332 and 86 in the quarter ended September; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this problem.
§ Mr. WoodYes, Sir. My local officers are continuing with some success to submit unemployed people to the increasing number of vacancies being notified to them.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the position is getting worse and that his officers are not meeting with any success? Does he realise that for the past two quarters, the figure has increased and there is every indication it will get still greater? Does not the hon. Gentleman feel that the Government should dissociate themselves from the statement made yesterday by the President of the British Employers' Confederation? What hope is there for men and women when we have a statement like that?
§ Mr. WoodThe reason for the slight optimism in my Answer was that between October and this month there were in the hon. Lady's area 350 fewer wholly unemployed, and in the same period unfilled vacancies increased from 824 to 979.
§ Miss BurtonThe hon. Gentleman is, I think, answering the next Question—we have not got there yet. I am dealing with the duration of unemployment and the figure has been greater, and not less.
§ Mr. WoodYes, indeed. That is why I suggested that my local officers were continuing with some success in submitting people. I quite admit to the hon. Lady—I have said so already—that the numbers unemployed for over six months have, unfortunately, increased.
§ 7. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of young people in Coventry is unable to find work of any kind, that this number includes many who left school last July, and that the position is made worse by the increasing number of men and women also remaining unemployed; and, in view of the fact that many more children will be leaving school in December next, if he will make a statement concerning the employment position for young people in Coventry.
§ Mr. WoodOn 17th November, 59 boys and 72 girls were unemployed in Coventry, of whom 14 boys and 19 girls left school in July. The placing of December school leavers in employment may take a little longer this year.
§ Miss BurtonDoes the Parliamentary Secretary realise what gravity underlines that statement of his? Is he aware, for example, that the long-term prospects for our school leavers in Coventry—I have this on very good authority—are worse than at any time since the war? Does he appreciate that the number of school leavers is 10 per cent. up on last year and that by 1962 it will be 50 per cent. up? Can the hon. Gentleman hold out any hope for us?
§ Mr. WoodThe hope I would hold out is that at the moment the number of boys unemployed is 59, whereas there are 190 vacancies for them. On the other hand, the serious aspect of the situation is that there are many fewer vacancies for girls. For 72 girls unemployed, there are, unfortunately, only 64 vacancies. Therefore, it is on the girls' side that I feel the most disquiet. It is, however, too early to say whether any pessimism about the December school leavers will prove eventually to be justified. There was a great deal of pessimism about the July school leavers, who in most areas have been able to find jobs.