§ 71. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Labour why he is not able to give a figure after mid-June, 1965, for the number of people employed in manufacturing industries in Shrewsbury, in view of the fact that this information is essential in Shrewsbury and other places to judge the effectiveness of his policy; and what steps he is taking to see that these figures are available other than after a lapse of 17 months.
§ Mr. GunterThe surveys of samples of manufacturing establishments used to obtain national monthly employment estimates cannot provide estimates of short-term changes in particular local areas. Estimates for local areas are made only once a year, for June, based on counts of national insurance cards. Because many cards are exchanged belatedly, it is necessary to wait and take account of exchanges up to the beginning of December. The national and regional estimates for June, 1966, will be available by the end of January and local estimates two or three months later. It is not practicable to compile these estimates earlier or more frequently.
§ 72. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Labour why he has not made an estimate as to the extent to which the Selective Employment Tax is achieving its object in transferring labour from service to manufacturing industries in Shrewsbury, in view of the fact that this is the main purpose of the tax; and by what other method he judges its effectiveness.
§ Mr. GunterI have not made such an estimate because the effects of the tax cannot be distinguished from the effects of other factors at present influencing the employment situation. In the longer term it will be possible to say what changes there have been in the levels of employment in manufacturing and services, and to examine how far these changes can be related to the Selective Employment Tax.