§ 30 and 31. Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will give figures showing the length of unemployment in the Blyth constituency at the latest available date for males, females, and persons under 18 years of age, male and female, respectively;
(2) what were the total figures of unemployment in the Blyth constituency at the latest available date and the comparable figures in 1959 and 1960.
§ Mr. P. ThomasOn 10th April, the number of unemployed in the Bedlington Station, Blyth, and Seaton Delaval Exchange areas totalled 722 compared with 633 in April, 1959 and 784 in April, 1960. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the detailed analysis of unemployment by duration at 13th March, 1961.
§ Mr. MilneIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these trends are rather alarming, and will he consult with his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade with a view to seeing that jobs are directed into this area in order to improve the position?
§ Mr. ThomasI assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is continuing to keep the matter well under review.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsIn order to keep the matter in perspective for the region as a whole, did he not give an answer earlier showing that unemploy-
| NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT LOCAL OFFICES IN BEDLINGTON STATION, BLYTH AND SEATON DELAVAL AT 13TH MARCH, 1961 | |||||||
| Length of unemployment | Men | Boys | Women | Girls | Total | ||
| Up to 2 weeks | … | … | 61 | 2 | 29 | 11 | 103 |
| Over 2 and up to 8 weeks | … | … | 149 | 8 | 68 | 15 | 240 |
| Over 8 and up to 26 weeks | … | … | 120 | 17 | 37 | 15 | 189 |
| Over 26 and up to 52 weeks | … | … | 55 | 5 | 18 | 1 | 79 |
| Over 52 weeks | … | … | 64 | — | 18 | 1 | 83 |
| TOTAL | … | … | 449 | 32 | 170 | 43 | 694 |