HC Deb 08 April 1959 vol 603 cc185-8
33. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour how many people in the City and County of Aberdeen are now unemployed, indicating their trades, sexes and ages; and what steps he is taking to find employment for each.

Mr. lain Macleod

As the answer to the first part of the Question consists of a table of figures, I will with permission circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. My local officers are continuing to submit unemployed workers to notified vacancies.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister realise that the last part of his Answer indicates that his efforts so far to provide employ-

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN ABERDEEN AND IN THE REST OF ABERDEENSHIRE AT 9th MARCH, 1959
Industry Aberdeen Aberdeen County (excluding Aberdeen)
Men Boys Women Girls Total Men Boys Women Girls Total
Agriculture and Horticulture … … 153 4 8 — 165 212 18 17 3 250
Fishing … … 142 — — — 142 262 12 — — 274
Non-Metalliferous Mining Products … … 84 5 2 — 91 4 — — — 4
Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing … … 93 1 2 — 96 20 — 2 — 22
Non-Electrical Engineering … … 115 4 11 — 130 13 1 10 — 24
Food Industries … 158 6 152 6 322 109 6 230 25 370
Timber … … 106 8 9 1 124 45 4 — — 49
Wooden Containers and baskets … … 107 — 12 — 119 — — — — —
Building and Civil Engineering Contracting 444 — 1 — 445 237 3 2 — 242
Sea Transport … … 154 10 — — 164 13 — — — 13
Distributive Trades … 352 10 244 4 610 56 10 87 11 164
Local Government Service … … 134 — 13 — 147 15 — 1 — 16
Professional Services … 49 — 55 1 105 3 — 22 — 25
Entertainment and Sport 80 — 10 — 90 3 — 4 — 7
Catering, Hotels, etc. … 106 — 122 1 229 16 — 36 6 58
Other Industries and Services … … 695 17 328 9 1,049 218 26 149 15 408
Total all Industries and Services … … 2,972 65 969 22 4,028 1,226 80 560 60 1,926
34. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled people in the City and County of Aberdeen, respectively, are now unemployed,

ment and industry in Aberdeen have been quite futile and unavailing? Will he consult the Secretary of State for Scotland and the President of the Board of Trade with a view to doing something constructive, so increasing industry and reducing unemployment at one stroke, and bringing in more foreign currency?

Mr. Macleod

We are always trying to do that. It is true that Aberdeen is one of the areas which, as the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, is included in the D.A.T.A.C. list as having a continuing and persistent problem of unemployment. It is also true that Aberdeen is one of the comparatively few areas in which the figure of unemployment has not risen over the past year. It is 5.1 per cent. at the moment, and it was 5.5 per cent. a year ago.

Following is the table:

indicating their sexes, ages, trades, and disabilities; how long each has been unemployed; and what steps he is taking to find employment for each.

Mr. Wood

As the answer to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. My disablement resettlement officers are continuing to do their best to find suitable work for the disabled, and although the situation remains difficult, the number of unemployed is rather less than it was 12 months ago.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister realise that his method of dealing with disabled workers compares very unfavourably with methods adopted in other countries? Will he study the administration in other

On 16th March, 1959, 547 men and 66 women registered as disabled were unemployed in the City of Aberdeen and 123 men and 18 women in the County of Aberdeen.
Detailed information about trades and disabilities is not readily available but the majority of the disabled unemployed are unskilled workers.
At 8th December, 1958, the statistics about age and duration of unemployment among the disabled classified as suitable for ordinary employment were as follows:—
City of Aberdeen MEN
— Under 18 18–19 20–24 25–39 40–49 50–54 55–64 65 and over Total
Up to 13 weeks — 2 14 50 53 22 59 — 200
13–52 weeks — 4 7 50 40 22 61 3 187
Over 52 weeks — 1 7 25 42 28 53 — 156
— 7 28 125 135 72 173 3 543
WOMEN
— Under 18 18–19 20–24 25–39 40–49 50–54 55–59 60 and over Total
Up to 13 weeks — — 6 10 6 2 2 — 26
13–52 weeks — — 7 11 6 3 — — 22
Over 52 weeks — — 1 2 1 — 2 — 6
— — 9 23 13 5 4 — 54
County of Aberdeen MEN
— Under 18 18–19 20–24 25–39 40–49 50–54 55–64 65 and over Total
Up to 13 weeks 1 — 3 4 12 9 10 1 40
13–52 weeks 1 — — 8 6 6 22 — 43
Over 52 weeks — — 2 6 10 9 17 — 44
2 — 5 18 28 24 49 1 127
WOMEN
— Under 18 18–19 20–24 25–39 40–49 50–54 55–59 60 and over Total
Up to 13 weeks — — 4 — 2 — 1 — 7
13–52 weeks 1 1 — 3 — 3 1 — 9
Over 52 weeks — — 1 2 1 1 — — 5
1 1 5 5 3 4 2 — 21

countries with a view to doing something really constructive for these disabled men?

Mr. Wood

I have made a special study of what goes on in other countries and I have always considered that our methods are in the van of the whole world.

Mr. Hughes

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Answers to my two Questions, I shall endeavour to raise this matter at the earliest opportunity.

Following is the information: