HC Deb 03 December 1970 vol 807 cc445-7W
68. Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many coal miners are currently unemployed in England and Wales and in the Northern Region; and how many of these are aged 55 to 65 years.

Mr. Dudley Smith

On 9th November, 1970, 19,831 males who last worked in coal mining were registered as unemployed in England and Wales, of whom 7,380 were in the Northern Region. There is no age analysis of these figures, but a special return for 14th September, 1970, confined to workers affected by colliery closures included 13,142 men aged 55 and over who were registered as unemployed in England and Wales, of whom 5,853 were in the Northern Region.

69. Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the coal-mining industry compared to the overall male rate calculated on a national and regional basis.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR MALES AT 9TH NOVEMBER, 1970
Coal-mining All industries and services
South East 2.8 2.2
South Western 6.4 3.9
West Midlands 4.4 2.8
East Midlands 4.5 3.0
Yorkshire and Humberside 4.0 4.0
North Western 5.8 3.8
Northern 10.2 6.1
Scotland 5.7 6.0
Wales 4.8 4.8
Great Britain 5.6 3.5

The total numbers of males registered as unemployed, including those temporarily stopped, have been expressed as percentages of the estimated numbers of male employees, employed and unemployed, at June, 1969. The coalmining percentage takes account of all males registered as unemployed who last worked in coalmining regardless of whether they are likely to work in that industry in the future.

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies there are in the coalmining industry in England and Wales and the Northern Region for miners and craftsmen; what is the ratio to the number unemployed; and what steps are being taken to fill these vacancies.

Mr. Dudley Smith

At 4th November, 1970, the number of notified vacancies in coalmining in England and Wales and in the Northern Region was 4,263 and 283 respectively. The statistics do not distinguish between vacancies for miners, craftsmen and others. The number of unfilled vacancies to every hundred males registered as wholly unemployed who were last employed in coalmining was 21.5 in England and Wales and 3.8 in the Northern Region. In calculating these ratios, all males registered as wholly unemployed who last worked in coalmining have been included, regardless of whether they are likely to work in that industry in future. The Department is in close touch with the National Coal Board at National and local level to ensure that the vacancies are brought to the notice of potentially suitable workers, including those willing to move to collieries in areas of labour shortage.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for the latest available date, the total number of registered unemployed at the Frederick Street Labour Exchange, Stratford, E.15; how this compares with the

Duration analysis of the numbers registered as wholly unemployed in the area covered by the Stratford Employment Exchange
November 1965 November 1966 November 1967 November 1968 November 1969 November 1970
MEN
Up to 2 weeks 113 211 163 213 160 172
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks 40 97 120 105 101 78
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks 45 139 161 121 98 114
Over 8 weeks 74 163 446 311 374 291
Total wholly unemployed 272 610 890 750 733 655
Temporarily stopped and casual workers 17 32 40 20 11 25
Total registered unemployed 289 642 930 770 744 680
WOMEN
Up to 2 weeks 65 67 59 28 41 37
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks 17 15 18 3 5 9
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks 15 13 14 8 3 4
Over 8 week 10 35 12 4 5 8
Total wholly unemployed 107 130 103 43 54 58
Temporarily stopped and casual workers 3
Total registered unemployed 107 133 103 43 54 58
BOYS AND GIRLS
Up to 2 weeks 44 56 64 53 57 50
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks 3 12 7 1 11 8
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks 2 2 3 2
Over 8 weeks 1 3
Totally wholly unemployed 49 70 74 55 71 60
Temporarily stopped and casual workers 2 1
Total registered unemployed 49 72 74 56 71 60
At November 1964, 388 men, 148 women and 65 boys and girls were registered as unemployed, but an analysis of these figures, by duration, is no longer available.