HC Deb 17 February 1960 vol 617 cc1279-81
33. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an occupational analysis of the present unemployment in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Mr. Heath

As the Reply includes a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Short

Is it not a fact that these figures reveal rather heavy unemployment in certain trades and that this is lost sight of when merged into the

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF ADULT WORKERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE AT 7TH DECEMBER, 1959
Occupation Men Women Total
House and ship painters, paperhangers … … … 76 — 76
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers … 46 — 46
Electricians, etc. … … … … … … 23 1 24
Stationary engine, etc. driver, stoker, etc. … … … 44 1 45
Miscellaneous workers in engineering and allied trades … 34 4 38
Toolmakers, precision fitters … … … … … 37 — 37
Kitchen workers (other than in private domestic service) … 14 53 67
Motor or electric lorry, tractor, van or truck drivers … 214 2 216
Warehousemen … … … … … … … 46 5 51
Porters and messengers … … … … … 49 — 49
Packers, stowers, boxers, wrappers, etc. … … … 6 94 100
Shop assistants in food and drink establishments … … 15 39 54
Clerks (general and routine) … … … … … 158 83 241
Labourers in building and civil engineering … … … 224 — 224
Labourers in engineering and allied trades … … … 78 — 78
Charwomen and cleaners (non-resident) … … … 1 128 129
General labourers, heavy … … … … … 1,046 — 1,046
General labourers, light … … … … … 737 — 737
Factory workers, factory hands, etc. … … … … 7 139 146
All other occupations … … … … … … 966 438 1,404
TOTAL … … … … … … 3,821 987 4,808
34. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present percentage of unemployment in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Wallsend, and Tynemouth, respectively.

general unemployment percentage? Is it not most unfair that the list should be drawn up on the basis of a general overall figure of unemployment in an area?

Mr. Heath

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade takes into consideration a very large number of factors. If the hon. Member will look at this very detailed list, he will be able to see the situation clearly.

Dame Irene Ward

Would my right hon. Friend please bear in mind that north-east Northumberland, with the exception of one small place in the centre, has been completely eliminated from the areas which are covered by the new Bill? Is he aware that we in the North-East are thoroughly dissatisfied with what appears to be a somewhat amateurish Bill which divides the Tyne in two?

Mr. Heath

Perhaps my hon. Friend would like to put those points to the President of the Board of Trade when he visits the North-East.

Following is the reply:

Mr. Heath

Percentage rates of unemployment are not computed for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Wallsend or Tynemouth, but on 11th January, 1960, the rate of unemployment for the combined area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Elswick, Walker, West Moor and Newburn was 3.1 per cent. and for the combined area of North Shields, Wallsend and Whitley Bay, 3.8 per cent.

Mr. Short

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in addition to those figures there is tremendous fear of redundancy in the area? There is widespread short-time working and this, in addition to the contraction of the coal industry and of the shipbuilding and repairing industry, really makes it quite shocking that none of this area has been included in the list.

Mr. Heath

I recognise that there are these factors. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has to take into account a number of other factors as well.

Mr. Jay

Is the right hon. Gentleman saying that these areas were omitted from the list because the unemployment percentage was less than four?

Mr. Health

No, I was not saying that specifically.

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