§ Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the proportion of current unemployment caused in the North-East by the weather and the season, respectively.
§ Mr. HareI cannot make any precise estimate, but it is clear that the effects of the recent severe weather have aggravated the increase in unemployment which normally occurs during the winter months. More than one-third of all those registered as unemployed in the North-East on 11th February were last employed in construction or other industries liable to be affected by the weather. These industries also
56Wtered as unemployed at employment exchanges in Falmouth and Camborne-Redruth, respectively, at each monthly count since October, 1962; and what percentages these were of the numbers of insured persons.
§ Mr. HareAs the reply consists of a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
south-western counties in each of the last four monthly counts.
§ Mr. HareFollowing is the information required:
accounted for about two-thirds of the increase in unemployment between December, 1962 and February, 1963.