§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the recent unemployment figures for the North-West of England; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John FraserI am satisfied that the unemployment figures collected by my Department accurately reflect the number of unemployed people registered for employment and available for work on the day of the count. I am not, of course, satisfied about the unemployment position in the North-West revealed by these figures. The measures announced on 24th September were designed to mitigate the worst effects of unemployment throughout the country by enabling up to 100,000 people to obtain jobs which otherwise would not have been available. The North-West, along with the rest of Great Britain, is benefiting from these measures.