HC Deb 17 February 1960 vol 617 cc1277-8
35. Miss Vickers

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the percentage of unemployed in each of the last five years in the city of Plymouth.

Mr. Heath

Because of the volume of daily travel to work it is not possible to compute a percentage rate of unemployment for Plymouth alone. For the wider area, including Saltash and Torpoint, the percentage rates were 2.2 in December, 1955, 2.5 in December, 1956, 3.2 in December, 1957, 4.1 in December, 1958 and 3.7 in December, 1959.

Miss Vickers

In view of the fact that we have over 3,000 unemployed in the area at the present time and that the area is not included in the new Local Employment Bill, does this not give rise for anxiety in that area?

Mr. Heath

Naturally one has anxiety where there is unemployment of that kind.