§ 24 and 25. Mr. J. Patonasked the Minister of Labour (1) how many boys and how many girls, respectively, were registered on the juvenile employment register in the City of Norwich on the latest convenient date this year and on the same date in 1957 and 1958; and how many of them had been registered for one month or longer;
(2) how many men and how many women, respectively, were registered as unemployed in the City of Norwich on the latest convenient date this year and on the same date in 1957 and 1958; how the total compares with the national average; how many had been registered for three months or longer; and how many were registered for skilled and unskilled employment, respectively.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs the reply includes tables of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. PatonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I shall study those figures with very great interest? In view of the interest shown about the effects of the bulge, of which we are all aware, is his Department taking any special steps to deal with the very serious problems which
§ The Tables below give the information desired:
| NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE IN THE NORWICH AREA AND THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR GREAT BRITAIN | |||||||
| Date | Men | Boys | Women | Girls | Total | Percentage rate of unemployment | |
| Norwich | |||||||
| 11th February, 1957 | … | 1,660 | 27 | 280 | 5 | 1,972 | 2.5 |
| 17th February, 1958 | … | 1,994 | 43 | 305 | 10 | 2,352 | 2.9 |
| 9th February, 1959 | … | 2,179 | 40 | 369 | 9 | 2,597 | 3.2 |
| Great Britain | |||||||
| 11th February, 1957 | … | 253,113 | 9,238 | 109,789 | 7,920 | 380,060 | 1.8 |
| 17th February, 1958 | … | 289,995 | 11,537 | 113,599 | 9,416 | 424,547 | 1.9 |
| 12th January, 1959* | … | 427,007 | 26,692 | 148,031 | 19,056 | 620,786 | 2.8 |
| * The total figures for February are not yet available. |
| The monthly analysis according to duration of unemployment only distinguishes those who have been unemployed for two weeks and eight weeks respectively. The following figures show the numbers in Norwich who had been unemployed for more than eight weeks: | |||||||
| — | Men | Boys | Women | Girls | Total | ||
| 11th February, 1957 | … | … | 821 | — | 66 | — | 887 |
| 17th February, 1958 | … | … | 1,161 | 7 | 104 | 1 | 1,273 |
| 9th February, 1959 | … | … | 1,545 | 8 | 179 | — | 1,732 |
| It is not possible to make a precise statistical distinction between skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. An occupational analysis in December, 1958, showed, however, that about one-half of the total number of wholly unemployed men on the registers in Norwich were registered as labourers. |
§ are expected to arise in juvenile employment over the next few years? In the City of Norwich, as he knows, the figures have increased very disturbingly. In view of the special nature of the circumstances of the City of Norwich, a great city in the midst of a very sparsely populated agricultural area, where alternative employment is almost impossible to obtain, will he consult his right hon. Friends with a view to giving special help to the area in order to keep the figures down?
§ Mr. MacleodI will certainly watch the situation, but I could not promise special help for Norwich, whose situation does not compare with some areas about which I feel great anxiety and some of whose representatives have Questions on the Order Paper today.
§ Mr. SpeakerMiss Burton. Question No. 26.
§ Mr. J. PatonMay I press for an answer on juvenile employment?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe are now on Question No. 26.
§ Mr. MacleodPerhaps I may be allowed to write to the hon. Member on that subject, to which I attach great importance.
§ Following is the statement: