§ 76. Captain Corfieldasked the Minister of Labour the present figures for unemployment in the Bristol area; what percentage this represents of the employed population; and how this compares with the national average.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAt 17th March there were 4,621 unemployed persons on the registers of employment exchanges in the Bristol area. The figures for Great Britain for 17th March are not yet ready. At 17th February the number unemployed in the Bristol area was 4,441 representing 153W 1.9 per cent. of the total number of employees in the area, the same rate as the national average.
§ 77. Captain Corfieldasked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies exist in the Bristol area; and what is the average delay in placing redundant workers from the Bristol Aircraft Company in fresh employment.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAt 12th March there were 1,717 vacancies notified to employment exchanges in the Bristol area and remaining unfilled. Sixty-six workers under retiring age left the firm on 21st March. Thanks to close co-operation between the firm and my local office all but ten of them went to other jobs without any interval of unemployment, and only seven were registered as unemployed on 26th March. Information is not available about five men under retiring age who were to be discharged on 28th March.