§ 22. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of unemployed school leavers in the Portsmouth area in September, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969, respectively.
§ Mr. DellThe numbers of unemployed school leavers in the Portsmouth travelto-work area on the specified dates were 111, 125, 66, 107, 142 and 99.
§ Mr. JuddI thank my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply. Would he agree that the contraction of the Naval Dockyard and the rationalisation of employment in the dockyard at Portsmouth 1172 means that there is a potential danger of future trouble in the area? Will he keep the matter under close surveillance?
§ Mr. DellI will certainly keep the situation under close surveillance. However, I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the fact that when one considers the number of vacancies for boys and girls, one sees that the figures were notably up in October of this year compared with October of last year—an example of the contrast to which I referred earlier.