§ 13. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the effect of the motor industry recession on employment in Wednesbury, Darlaston and Willenhall, and on the increase of short-time working in the area.
§ Mr. HareMy information is that there has been no redundancy in this industry in these areas and that the only short-time working affects 115 workers in Darlaston.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the Minister aware that I had a deputation only last week from Willenhall from a firm where 400 men are on short time? Is he aware that my constituents are very concerned because there are violent fluctuations in the economy which mean for them a lurching from a period of excessive overtime to a period of short time? Is he aware that it is not satisfactory to say that only a few people are involved and that it is no comfort to those concerned when their incomes are cut by one-third?
§ Mr. HareIt is also true that we have to keep these things in perspective and that the unemployment figures at 10th October were .3 per cent. for Wednesbury, .1 per cent. for Darlaston and .2 per cent. for Willenhall.