HC Deb 16 May 1966 vol 728 c908
37. Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an estimate of the number of able-bodied women of working age in Scotland who have never registered their names at an employment exchange of his department and are not therefore included in the monthly unemployment figures.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

I regret that no such estimate can be made.

Earl of Dalkeith

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Scottish unemployment percentage is about double that of England? There is far more concealed unemployment north of the Border, as is witnessed by the fact that no fewer than 43,000 Scots emigrated last year, which is nearly 10,000 more than the average for the preceding five years. Will she show some grave concern about this concealed unemployment problem?

Mrs. Williams

The hon. Gentleman may be aware that this Government have not only shown great concern: they have also done something about it.