§ 27. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate, in figures and as a percentage of the insured population, those men and women, respectively, who are signing the register for employment within the Heysham and Belfast districts; how he estimates that these figures are likely to be affected by the proposed withdrawal of the Belfast-Heysham ferry service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John FraserIn November 1974, the latest date for which figures for Great Britain are available, there were 831 males and 274 females registered as unemployed in the Morecambe employment office area, which covers Heysham. The unemployment rates for the Lancaster travel-to-work area, which includes Heysham, were 6.6 per cent. for males and 2.7 per cent. for females. Unemployment figures in Belfast in January 1975 were
320WDecember 1974, and 1st February 1975, respectively.
§ Mr. John FraserOwing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency, statistics were not compiled for December 1974 and January 1975. The figures for 10th February 1975 are due to be released on Thursday 20th February. Following is the available information:
§ Mr. John FraserThe following table shows the numbers of unemployed persons who last worked in construction at November 1972, November 1973 and November 1974. Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency, figures for December 1974 and January 1975 are not available.
6,687 males and 1,915 females. The unemployment rates were 5.3 per cent and 2.6 per cent., respectively.
It is difficult to estimate how many workers would become unemployed on withdrawal of the ferry services, but the effect on these figures is likely to be small.
All the facilities of the Manpower Ser vices Commission and of the Department of Manpower Services in Northern Ireland would be available in the event of closure.