§ 56. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were unemployed in the Preston travel-to-work area in the years 30th September 1973 to 30th September 1978, respectively.
§ Mr. GoldingThe numbers registered as unemployed are counted on a selected date in each month. The following table gives the numbers unemployed in the Preston travel-to-work area in September each year from 1973 to 1978:
Males Females 10th September 1973 2,538 555 9th September 1974 2,638 613 8th September 1975 4,846 1,567 9th September 1976 5,320 2,374 8th September 1977 5,603 2,908 14th September 1978 5,573 3,435
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average length of time that (a) a notified general vacancy and (b) a notified skilled tradesman (engineering) vacancy exists at the Preston jobcentre before such vacancy is filled, for the period 1st January 1978 to 30th September 1978.
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§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the operation of job centres, that this information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of general vacancies for males and females notified to his Department's (a) main Preston employment office and (b) Bamber Bridge, Preston office, at 30th September 1977, 31st December 1977, 31st March 1978, 30th June 1978 and 30th September 1978.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the operation of local employment offices, that notified vacancies are, with certain very limited exceptions, open to either sex. The total number of vacancies notified to the offices concerned and unfilled on the statistical dates closest to the dates specified were:
Preston jobcentre Bomber Bridge (Preston) Jobcentre 7th October 1977 519 55 6th January 1978 606 226* 7th April 1978 827 45 30th June 1978 626 35 6th October 1978 704 71 * The January figure for Bamber Bridge was unusually high because of the opening of a large supermarket in the area at that time.