§ 31 and 32. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the percentage of unemployment in Dundee at the most recent convenient date in June; and what was the ratio of unemployed to unfilled vacancies; and
(2) if he will give an analysis of the unemployment figures in Dundee at the most convenient recent date in June, according to the lengths of time insured workers have been unemployed.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodFor the Dundee and Broughty Ferry areas combined the percentage of unemployment at 16th June was 6.5. At that date there were about five unfilled notified vacancies in this area for every 100 persons registered as wholly unemployed.
I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT an analysis of the number of unemployed at 16th June according to duration of unemployment.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Minister aware that the unemployment figures are continuing to go up and that the number of unfilled vacancies continues to go down? Has his Department made any estimate of when this trend is likely to cease?
§ Mr. MacleodNo. The trend is a very worrying one indeed. There has, I think, been a small drop in the figure of wholly unemployed in Dundee, but that it more than counterbalanced by the serious increase in the number of temporarily stopped. It is one of the most serious of the individual problems. We shall do everything we can to help Dundee.
§ The following is the analysis:
| NUMBER OF WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTER OF THE DUNDEE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT 16TH JUNE, 1958 | |||
| Duration of Unemployment | Males | Females | Total |
| Up to 2 weeks | 371 | 186 | 557 |
| Over 2 and up to 8 weeks | 619 | 355 | 974 |
| Over 8 and up to 13 weeks | 303 | 234 | 537 |
| Over 13 and up to 26 weeks | 518 | 362 | 880 |
| Over 26 and up to 39 weeks | 271 | 158 | 429 |
| Over 39 and up to 52 weeks | 139 | 80 | 219 |
| Over 52 weeks | 410 | 107 | 517 |
| TOTAL | 2,631 | 1,482 | 4,113 |
§ Note.—The Table above excludes persons registered as temporarily stopped. The number in that category in Dundee at 16th June was 1,638.
§ 33. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered at employment exchanges in Dundee as being jute workers and building trade workers, respectively, at the most recent convenient date in June; and what percentages of these were unemployed.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAt 16th June, 2,445 workers in the jute industry and 225 in the building industry were registered as unemployed in Dundee and Broughty Ferry. The respective percentages were 15.6 and 4.6.
§ Mr. ThomsonHas the Minister's attention been drawn to certain exchanges during the debate on the cotton industry in which the Government made it perfectly clear that they regarded the present State trading in jute as a temporary measure which the President of the Board of Trade disliked intensely? Does he not agree that the Government ought to give an assurance to Dundee that there will be no further interference with this State trading in jute, which protects employment in Dundee, at least until alternative jobs have been provided?
§ Mr. MacleodI will certainly give an assurance that there would be no major change without discussions. If the hon. Member wishes to press the matter further than that, perhaps he will put a Question to the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Sir J. DuncanIs the figure of 15.6 per cent. a figure for jute workers employed 1319 in Dundee or a figure for jute workers employed in the jute industry, which involves the district outside Dundee?
§ Mr. MacleodThe figure is for the jute industry.