§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the incidence of unemployment by trades, and other classification, namely, men, women, youths, and girls, in the Stockport metropolitan area.
§ Mr. GoldingThe following table shows an occupational analysis of the numbers of unemployed people registered at the Stockport, Hyde and Marple employment offices at March 1976. Those registered at careers offices are not analysed by occupation.
ment. We shall continue to monitor the situation closely and shall certainly bear in mind the possibility of taking further steps to reduce unemployment as part of our overall economic strategy.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment situation on Merseyside.
§ Mr. GoldingThe level of unemployment on Merseyside is currently about twice the national average and the Government regard the present level as 155W totally unacceptable. Although the recent measures to alleviate unemployment have been of some benefit to the area the Government accept that there is still a very long way to go towards solving the long-term employment problems of the area.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has plans to pay an official visit to Merseyside to study the unemployment situation.
§ Mr. GoldingI intend to make an official visit to Merseyside in June to study the unemployment situation there and the efficacy of the Government's measures to counter it.