Mid-Northumberland (Hansard, 19 November 1971)

§ Mr. George Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled men who qualify for Remploy type of employment are out of work in the mid-Northumberland local employment area.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
On 11th October, 1971, 127 men in the mid-Northumberland local employment area were registered as unemployed and unlikely to obtain work except under sheltered conditions.

§ Mr. George Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many miners between 50 and 65 years of age are unemployed in the mid-Northumberland local employment area.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
An age analysis of all miners unemployed is not available. However, an analysis made on 13th September of miners unemployed through colliery closures or planned rundown of the labour force showed 1,098 aged 55 and over in the Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth and Morpeth Employment Exchange areas, which correspond to the area covered by the Mid-Northumberland Local Employment Committee. We do not have statistics showing the number of unemployed miners who are over 50 but under 55, nor do we know how many of those older than 55 are over 65.

§ Mr. George Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider extending the Remploy factory at North Seaton, Ashington.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
We estimate that in the area served by the Ashington factory the number of severely disabled people who are both suitable and available for employment with Remploy is about 35. Vacancies for 10 or 12 people to replace employees who have left or retired are expected to occur shortly, whilst the company is planning, by reorganising the production layout, to provide a further 20 places at the factory over the next 18 months. In these circumstances, and having regard to the needs of other areas, my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in asking Remploy to extend the factory.
228W

§ Mr. George Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to alleviate the high unemployment of redundant mineworkers above 50 years of age in the mid-Northumberland local employment area.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
The employment prospects of older ex-miners in mid-Northumberland should be improved by the many measures the Government have taken to stimulate the national economy and to encourage industrial expansion in the development areas. They also stand to benefit both from the special arrangements whereby grants are available to employers in the assisted areas who engage and train workers aged 45 and over who have been unemployed at least eight weeks, and from my Department's general policy of encouraging employers not to discriminate against older workers in their recruitment policies.