HC Deb 25 April 1972 vol 835 c228W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employment exchange areas there are in the United Kingdom; and if he will list those exchange areas where the male unemployment rate is greater than 12 per cent. and the female unemployment rate is greater than 10 per cent.

Mr. Dudley Smith

There are 902 employment exchange areas in the United Kingdom of which 874 are in Great Britain. My Department calculates rates for 445 areas in Great Britain which comprise employment exchange areas either singly or grouped to form travel-to-work areas. Of these the areas which at 13th March had male rates of unemployment in excess of 12 per cent. and female rates in excess of 10 per cent. were Campbeltown, Lesmahagow, Sanquhar and Shotts.