§ 17. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Employment how 262 many men, women, and youths were registered as unemployed at the Mex-borough and Wombwell employment exchanges, respectively, at the latest available date; and how these figures compare with those in the years 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. John GrantAt 10th November, 1,318 males and 667 females in the Mexborough area and 523 males and 241 females in the Wombwell area were registered as unemployed. The corresponding figures for November 1975 were 1,139 males and 524 females at Mexborough, and 491 males and 126 females at Wombwell. Information for November 1976 is not available because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group. Separate figures are not available for youths.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes not my hon. Friend agree that those figures prove that there is a tremendous shortage of suitable jobs in this part of South Yorkshire? Will he have some serious discussions with the Secretary of State for Industry to ensure that more jobs come into the area? Will he also have discussions with the Secretary of State for the Environment to try to persuade him to give his blessing to the South Yorkshire Navigation scheme, which is bound to bring jobs and activity to this part of South Yorkshire?