§ 10. Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated current level of unfilled vacancies compared with the total number of unemployed in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. PriorThe number of unfilled vacancies at employment offices in the United Kingdom in November was 231,000 which is estimated to represent about one in three of all vacancies in the economy. The total number of registered unemployed in November was 1,355,000.
§ Mr. LeeDoes my right hon. Friend agree that there are many constituencies, such as my own of Nelson and Colne, where, despite a regrettable positive unemployment figure, we have many job vacancies for skilled and semi-skilled workers? Is he aware that in our particular area there are dozens of habitable terraced houses costing £3,000 to £6,000 each?
§ Mr. CanavanOn 15 per cent. mortgages.
§ Mr. LeeOne of Britain's worst characteristics is the inability to change and the lack of mobility of labour.
§ Mr. PriorWe certainly require maximum mobility of labour. A number of factors such as rent control and an inability to provide housing prevent mobility. In spite of that, however, 8 million or 9 million people a year go on and come off the register. In many cases, if employers require skilled people they will probably have to pay more for them.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIs the Secretary of State aware that on Tyneside in the skilled trades between 12 and 50 men are chasing every vacancy, and that for unskilled work there are 200 men chasing every vacancy?
§ Mr. PriorThe further north one goes, the fewer the vacancies and the more unemployed workers there are chasing them. However, even in the North of England, in areas of high unemployment there are job vacancies, particularly involving shift and weekend work, which remain unfilled. There is something going on here which hon. Members know about, and we must all do what we can to help.