Sutton-in-Ashfield (Hansard, 25 February 1959)

§ 54. Mr. Warbey
asked the Minister of Labour how many women who normally work in the hosiery industry in the Ash-field constituency are at present unemployed; and how many are working short time.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
On 9th February, 1959, 28 women whose last employment had been in the hosiery industry were registered as wholly unemployed and 39 as temporarily stopped at the Sutton-in-Ashfield Employment Exchange.

§ Mr. Warbey
Is the Minister aware that he has not given the figures for which I asked? He has given the figures only in respect of registered unemployed. Does he agree that these official statistics do not reveal the true measure of unemployment and under-employment amongst women workers? What steps is he taking to see that more adequate data is made available?

§ Mr. Macleod
We discussed this point on another Question a little earlier. I can give figures only in respect of those who are registered at my exchanges as seeking work. It is quite impossible to estimate, at any given time, how many people could conceivably take work if more opportunities were available.

§ 55. Mr. Warbey
asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the Sutton-in-Ashfield Employment Exchange on the latest date for which figures are available, and 12 months previously.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
On 9th February, 695 people were registered as unemployed at the Sutton-in-Ashfield Employment Exchange and Youth Employment Office compared with 457 a year earlier.

§ Mr. Warbey
As these figures reveal a disturbing increase as a result of the Government's deflationary economic policy, will the Minister say what he and his colleagues are doing to bring about an expansion of industry in those areas which do not qualify as Development Areas or black spots?

§ Mr. Macleod
The Government's policy in concentrating special attention on those places which qualify for DA.T.A.C. and other forms of assistance is the right one. There has been a similar sort of increase in unemployment over the last year, but I do not accept that that is wholly due to Government policies.