§ Mr. Delargyasked the Minister of Labour how many persons in Thurrock were signing the unemployment register, including those who are employed by the National Dock Labour Board, at the last convenient date; and how many were so signing at the similar date last year.
§ Mr. Hare:The available statistics relate to employment exchange areas. At 16th January, 1961, there were 547 unemployed persons on the registers of the 188W Grays, Tilbury, and Stanford-le-Hope Employment Exchanges and the Grays Youth Employment Office; the comparable figure for 11th January, 1960, was 726. I am informed by the National Dock Labour Board that during the week ending 21st January, 1961, the average number of dock workers in Tilbury and Northfleet for whom no work was available was 172. The corresponding figure during the week ending 23rd January, 1960, was 24. These dock workers do not sign the unemployment register.