§ 1. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in the numbers of male persons and of juveniles who are unemployed in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region compared with one year ago.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Dudley Smith)At 8th March, 1971 the provisional number of males registered as unemployed in the Yorkshire and Humberside region was 8,258 higher than at 9th March, 1970. The corresponding increase for young persons was 1,313.
§ Mr. HardyIs the Minister aware that, bad as the figures are, a serious increase is likely to occur in the next few weeks in view of recent developments? May I ask the hon. Gentleman what hard action —to use the phrase which the Secretary of State used in the debate last year—he propses to take to improve the very serious situation in the Yorkshire area?
§ Mr. SmithAs the hon. Gentleman knows, there are three intermediate areas in the region, including that announced on 10th March of Bridlington and Filey. I think that it is true to say that the increase is largely due to the rise in the numbers of those on short time. While this is not satisfactory, it is at least better than their being wholly unemployed.