§ 47. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployed in Clacton-on-Sea in the last three months, respectively; and how this compares with the previous three years.
§ Mr. FernyhoughAs the reply consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs the Minister frightened to say that the rate of unemployment in Clacton in February was 6.6 per cent.? Is not this a dangerously high figure and a disquieting trend? Does he really think that we should pay S.E.T. in such areas?
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe hon. Gentleman must have got his figure from a different source from mine. In February, according to our records, the figure was 6.2 per cent. This month it is 5.7 per cent. It must, however, be remembered that one-third of that figure comprises people over the age of 60, many of whom have retired and are on superannuation pensions.
§ Following is the information:
| PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE CLACTON-ON-SEA EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE | |||
| January | February | March | |
| 1968 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 5.7 |
| 1967 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| 1966 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 2.9 |
| 1965 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.6 |