37. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men and of women unemployed in north Staffordshire for the most recent month available.
§ Mr. Whitelaw7,510 men and 1,269 women at 1lth February, 1963.
Mrs. SlaterDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that it is time that his right hon. Friend studied the situation in north Staffordshire where unemployment is continually on the upgrade? Does he appreciate that this is an area in which the number of unemployed women is much higher than appears to be the case, because, as so many women do not pay full insurance contributions and are therefore not registered, the employment exchange figures do not give the whole picture? Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend and the President of the Board of Trade to look at the whole area again?
§ Mr. WhitelawI can assure the hon. Lady that both my right hon. Friends will look very carefully at this area. The hon. Lady said that unemployment in the area has been on the upgrade. I very much hope that it will soon start to be on the downgrade.