§ 13. Mr. Shinwellasked the Minister of Labour how many males were registered at employment exchanges covering the Easington Parliamentary constituency at the latest available date; and what arrangements are made to enable unemployed persons to take employment where many vacancies exist in the South-East and elsewhere.
§ Mr. Marsh788 on 10th May; vacancies which cannot be filled locally are circulated to areas where workers are likely to be available and are brought to the notice of unemployed workers in those areas. Financial assistance is available under the Ministry's Resettlement Transfer Scheme to help workers to move if they have no early prospect of obtaining regular work in their home areas and satisfy certain conditions.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes not my hon. Friend recognise that this is still a very high figure, despite the reduction in unemployment? Is it possible for the Ministry to prepare an analysis of those who are willing to go elsewhere in view of the difficulty of obtaining employment locally?
§ Mr. MarshWith your permission, Mr. Speaker, I should like to take this opportunity of congratulating my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) on his award. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I think this is probably one of the few things that have happened to him which has given unalloyed pleasure to both sides of the House.
The decrease in unemployment in the Easington district is, of course, very welcome. Indeed, it represents a 37 per cent. decrease in one year. We are prepared to advertise vacancies that exist anywhere in the country. We shall give any help that we can, because it is a serious problem in the Easington area.