§ Mr. James Hillasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many training places are at present available in or near Southampton; and what is the percentage increase expected in the next five years.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithTwo hundred and forty-seven places were available at 335W Southampton Government training centre on 1st May. Plans for the next five years have not yet been finalised but the number of places will be increased by 178 or 72 per cent. in the next three years. A new centre with about 150 places will also be opened at Portsmouth by the summer of 1973.
§ Mr. JamesHill asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the number of unfilled vacancies in the Southampton area compares with six months ago.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkFollowing is the information:
Numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled, Southampton, Eastleigh, Hythe, Romsey and Woolston travel-to-work area Unfilled vacancies October, 1971 1,115 April, 1972 1,349 The vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.
§ Mr. James Hillasked the Secretary of State for Employment what change there has been in the unemployment level in Southampton during the past six months.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkFollowing is the information:
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE SOUTHAMPTON, EASTLEIGH, HYTHE, ROMSEY AND WOOLSTON TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA Numbers unemployed Percentage rate of unemployment October, 1971 4,915 3.3 April, 1972 5,381 3.6