§ 17. Miss Herbisonasked the Minister of Labour what was the rate of unemployment at the employment exchanges of Coatbridge, Airdrie and Wishaw, at the latest available date and at the same time last year.
§ Mr. WhitelawSeparate percentage rates are not available for these offices but the rate for the north Lanarkshire travel-to-work group, of which they form part, was 7.4 on 10th June compared with 5.7 in June, 1962.
§ Miss HerbisonFirst, is the Minister aware that it is highly unsatisfactory that we cannot get separate figures for unemployment in such a wide area an Lanarkshire? Secondly, is he aware that these figures show very clearly indeed 848 the great problems which are facing our people in these three areas? Will he do everything possible to bring to the notice of his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in deciding where the new industrial estates must go, that these two areas—Airdrie-Coatbridge and Wishaw—are the two areas which have been worse neglected by the President of the Board of Trade in giving any new industry in the last 12 years?
§ Mr. WhitelawMay I answer the three points in turn? The first concerned giving percentages for particular areas. I feel that this problem should be appreciated: if people travel from their home area to work they are counted as employees in the area where they work, but when they become unemployed they tend to register at the exchange nearest their home. This makes it difficult to calculate a percentage for a single exchange area where there is considerable travel-to-work, I am sure that the hon. Lady accepts that this is the case in north Lanarkshire, and from my own knowledge of the area I know that it is the case. It would be quite unrealistic to give separate percentage figures.
Answering her second question, I think that the hon. Lady knows very well of the many measures which the Government have taken to improve the position. She knows of advance factories which are planned for north Lanarkshire, in particular. In reply to the last point which she made, I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will note carefully what she said.
§ Miss HerbisonThe Minister has missed the whole point of my supplementary question. As long as he refuses to give the separate figures and his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade does not know where the highest unemployment in this very wide county is situated, how can the President of the Board of Trade decide fairly where this new industrial estate should go?
§ Mr. WhitelawI note the hon. Lady's point, but surely, in an area where there is substantial travel-to-work, it would be right to place any industrial estate in a position where it would draw people for employment from all over the area. After all, this is the purpose of it.