§ 85. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Labour what factors caused the increase of 891 in the number of persons unemployed in Sunderland on 10th January, compared with 6th December, 1954.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe main factor was the bad weather on the day of the count which was largely responsible for the increase of 481 men unemployed in shipbuilding and ship-repairing, and building and contracting. There was also an increase of 329 boys and girls, most of whom had left school at Christmas and had not yet been placed in employment. Small seasonal fluctuations in a number of industries were contributory factors.