§ 3. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males, females, boys and girls, respectively, have registered as unemployed for the whole of the past six months at the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges.
§ Mr. John FraserOn 8th April, 698 males and 78 females in Mexborough and Wombwell had been unemployed for over 26 weeks. Separate figures for boys and girls are not available for this date.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes my hon. Friend agree that the unemployment rate in the Mexborough and Wombwell district is more than twice the national average? Is he aware that because of credit restrictions the firm of Hattersley Bros., in Swinton, near Mexborough, is going on short time? Will my hon. Friend, through his right hon. Friends, ensure that the credit facilities which we have had until recently are brought back so that there can again be full-time working? Will my hon. Friend confirm that credit restrictions on central heating in homes are going backwards and not forwards?
§ Mr. FraserI agree with my hon. Friend that unemployment in his district is too high. The question of credit restrictions is a matter not for my Department but for the Treasury. I am happy to say that there is a good prospect of jobs arising from industrial development certificates granted during the last year. Training facilities are being provided at Doncaster in addition to those already existing at Sheffield and Wakefield.