§ 20. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Labour the numbers of unemployed people in the county of Ayr and in the Ayr constituency, respectively, now and at the same date last year; and what percentage the present figures bear to the number of employable people in the two areas.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe figures for 13th April will soon be available and I will then write to my hon. Friend.
§ Sir T. MooreWhile being deeply ignorant of what the figures will be, might I ask my right hon. Friend whether he has any plan to increase the number of people who are at present employed in the county and in my constituency?
§ Mr. MacleodThere are certain parts that are available for D.A.T.A.C. assistance and, with the assistance of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, we try to help in those areas.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesSurely the Minister has some figures available. There is a seriously complex problem in Ayr itself. Is the Minister aware that a special conference is being called on Friday by the county council and local Members of Parliament and that he has given his hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Sir T. Moore) very meagre food to take to that conference?
§ Mr. MacleodThat is simply because the figures for 13th April will be available in a day or two. From my hon. Friend's Question I thought that he wanted the latest figures, and I will send those to him as soon as I can.