§ 32 and 33. Mr. P. Wellsasked the Minister of Labour (1) the total number of registered unemployed at Faversham on the latest convenient date; what percentage of insured workers this represents; and the corresponding figures last year;
(2) the total number of registered unemployed at Sittingbourne at the latest convenient date; and the corresponding figure last year.
§ Mr. Ian MacleodAt Faversham, the number of registered unemployed was, 217 at 9th February, 1959, compared with 215 a year ago. At Sittingbourne, the figures were 295 at 9th February, 1959, compared with 207 at 17th February, 1958.
A percentage rate of unemployment cannot be computed for Faversham alone, but for the combined area of Faversham 1108 and Sittingbourne, the total of 512 at 9th February, 1959, represented 2.4 per cent. of the estimated number of employees, compared with 422 and 2.0 per cent. a year ago.
§ Mr. WellsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that those figures show that there is very little chance of unemployed persons in Sheppey finding alternative employment on the mainland?
§ Mr. MacleodThat is a fair point. The figures themselves are not particularly worrying and there is little travel to work between the two areas, but it adds urgency to the problem of trying to get a tenant for the Sheerness Dockyard.