§ 31. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour the number of boys registered as unemployed at youth employment offices in Lanarkshire in October, 1958, whose last employment was in the metal manufacturing industry; and what percentage of boys under 18 years of age in the metal manufacturing industry of Lanarkshire this represented.
§ Mr. WoodIn Lanarkshire, including Glasgow. 44 wholly unemployed and 101 temporarily stopped. It is not possible to say what proportion these represent of the boys employed in this industry.
§ Mr. LawsonIf my calculation is anything like correct, it appears to me that well over 20 per cent. of youths under 18 in this industry are at present unemployed. Is it not a sad reflection on an industry which has boasted so often of its good labour relations that it should be so ready to put off youngsters? Will the hon. Gentleman make representations to try to have those youngsters treated as proper apprentices?
§ Mr. WoodThe hon. Gentleman will know better than myself that this is merely a reflection of the general difficulties in the industry. I need not tell him what difficulties the industry is going through at the present time.
§ 32. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed at each of the Ministry of Labour offices in the County of Lanark in October, 1958, and October, 1957, and whose last employment was in the metal manufacturing industry.
§ Mr. WoodAs the reply consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LawsonI put the Question down because I have not got the exact figures but, again, if my understanding of the position is at all correct, there is more than a tenfold increase in unemployment in this trade in that part of the country. 1183 Will the hon. Gentleman take especial steps to ensure that steel orders are sent to Lanarkshire?
| NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN LANARKSHIRE WHOSE LAST EMPLOYMENT WAS IN METAL MANUFACTURE | ||||||
| Employment Exchanges | 14th October, 1957 | 13th October, 1958 | ||||
| Wholly Unemployed | Temporarily Stopped | Total | Wholly Unemployed | Temporarily Stopped | Total | |
| Airdrie | 23 | — | 23 | 49 | 137 | 486 |
| Bellshill | 17 | — | 17 | 73 | 273 | 346 |
| Blantyre | 5 | — | 5 | 50 | 6 | 56 |
| Cambuslang | 13 | — | 13 | 310 | 11 | 321 |
| Carluke | 2 | — | 2 | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Coatbridge | 39 | — | 39 | 135 | 465 | 600 |
| East Kilbride | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Hamilton | 31 | 1 | 32 | 167 | 50 | 217 |
| Lanark | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Larkhall | 5 | — | 5 | 24 | 16 | 43 |
| Lesmahgow | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Motherwell | 31 | 8 | 39 | 107 | 207 | 314 |
| Shotts | 2 | — | 2 | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| Uddingston | 11 | — | 11 | 43 | 68 | 111 |
| Wishaw | 31 | 3 | 34 | 112 | 124 | 236 |
| Bridgeton | 42 | 4 | 46 | 106 | 32 | 138 |
| Glasgow Central | 30 | — | 30 | 63 | 16 | 79 |
| Glasgow South Side | 49 | 2 | 51 | 190 | 13 | 203 |
| Govan | 15 | — | 15 | 22 | 17 | 39 |
| Kinning Park | 7 | — | 7 | 23 | 3 | 26 |
| Maryhill | 23 | — | 23 | 65 | 34 | 99 |
| Parkhead | 62 | — | 62 | 191 | 251 | 442 |
| Partick | 5 | — | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Springburn | 50 | 2 | 52 | 153 | 19 | 172 |
| Rutherglen | 9 | — | 9 | 39 | 8 | 47 |
| Youth Employment Offices | ||||||
| Airdrie | — | — | — | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| Bellshill | 5 | — | 5 | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| Blantyre | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cambuslang | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Coatbridge | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 55 | 56 |
| Hamilton | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Lanark | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Motherwell and Wishaw | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 30 |
| Shotts | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Baillieston | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Bridgeton | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Glasgow City | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Larkhal | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Glasgow South Side | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
| Govan | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Maryhill | 4 | — | 4 | 6 | — | 6 |
| Parkhead | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 |
| Partick | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rutherglen | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Springburn | 1 | — | 1 | — | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 527 | 17 | 544 | 2,003 | 1,884 | 3,887 |
§ intends to do everything it can to bring to the notice of industrialists who may have suitable projects the difficulties to which he has been drawing our attention.
§ Following is the table: