HC Deb 25 March 1959 vol 602 cc131-3W
Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the latest figures of unemployment in the Stornoway area by trades or occupations.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The following table gives the information desired:

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS ON THE REGISTERS OF THE STORNOWAY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AT 9TH MARCH, 1959
Industry Males Females Total
Agriculture and Horticulture 46 1 47
Fishing 91 91
Woollen and Worsted 46 5 51
Food Industries 62 39 101
Building and Civil Engineering Contracting 639 639
Sea Transport 53 1 54
Port, River and Canal Transport, Docks and Harbours 65 65
Distributive Trades 51 6 57
Local Government Service 107 107
Catering, Hotels, etc. 13 127 140
Other Industries and Services 311 73 384
Total, All Industries and Services 1,484 252 1,736

Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the Stornoway area expressed as a percentage of the total insured working population there; and what is the same percentage of the total working population of the United Kingdom expressed as a number of persons.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The following table gives the information desired:

Mr. Iain Macleod

The Answer is 34.4 per cent. at 9th March. For the United Kingdom, this percentage would represent 7,637,000 persons.

Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons in the Stornoway area have been unemployed for less than six months; how many for between six and nine months; and how many for a year or more.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The following table gives an analysis, according to duration of unemployment, of the numbers of persons on the registers of the Stornoway Employment Exchange at 9th March, 1959:

Duration of unemployment Males Females
Not more than 6 months 807 204
6–9 months 156 23
9–12 months 83 2
More than 12 months 438 23
Total 1,484 252

Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Minister of Labour how many of those unemployed, at the most recent count in the Stornoway area, are under 21 years of age.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The only age groups that are distinguished in the monthly figures of unemployed are those under 18 and those aged 18 and over. The total number on the registers of the Stornoway Employment Exchange at 9th March was 1,736 of whom 168 were under 18. A more detailed age analysis is obtained in June and December. In December, 1958, the number under 18 was 186 and the number aged 18 and under 20 was 96. The number aged 20 and under 21 is not available.

Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Minister of Labour the number and the percentage of persons unemployed in the Stornoway area at the most recent count, and the numbers unemployed in each of the islands of Barra, South and North Uist and Benbecula.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The Answer to the first part of the question is 1,736 or 34.4 per cent., and to the second, 140, 98, 122 and 39 respectively.