HC Deb 25 February 1959 vol 600 cc156-7W
59. Mr. Ross

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the present percentage rate of unemployment in Ayrshire, and, with their percentages, those employment exchanges where the rate is over 4 per cent.

Mr. Iain Macleod

5.8 per cent. on 9th February, 1959. There were no employment exchanges in Ayrshire where the rate was below four per cent. I have had the details incorporated in the following table:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF AYRSHIRE
Ardrossan, Stevenston, Kilwinning and Irvine 8.5
Ayr and Troon 4.0
Cumnock and Catrine 4.4
Girvan 6.1
Kilbirnie and Dairy 16.6
Kilmarnock, Newmilns and Stewarton 4.1
Largs 6.0
Total for Ayrshire 5.8

Note: Individual Employment Exchange areas are grouped for the purposes of calculating percentage rates of unemployment owing to the fact that appreciable numbers of people work in areas different from those in which they live.

61. Mr. Ross

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons unemployed in Ayrshire at the most recent date; and how many of these are young persons who left school at the last school-leaving date.

Mr. Wood

7,493 at 9th February, including 87 boys and girls who had not found employment after leaving school at the end of 1958.