§ 75 and 79. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware of the increasing anxiety in the West Fife area consequent on the closing of yet another factory in the last few weeks; and to what extent the redundant female workers have been reabsorbed into other forms of employment;
(2) if he is aware that the De La Rue factory, near Leslie, Fife, is contemplating closure in March; that this will be the fourth factory to close in Fife within the last six months; that such closures have caused hardship and will cause increasing hardship especially among women who will find it difficult to obtain 176W alternative employment; and whether he will make a statement on the future employment prospects in the county.
§ Mr. CarrI am aware that three factories have closed since last September and that another is expected to close at the end of March. Employment opportunities for women and girls are limited in West Fife, but although nearly 600 have left the employment of the three closed factories, only 140, most of whom were discharged on 27th December last, were still registered as unemployed a week ago.