§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the latest figures for the Hull area of unemployed persons and dockers without jobs, respectively, and the total; what percentage of unemployment these figures represent; and whether this percentage now qualifies Hull being designated a development area for Government financial assistance.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOn 17th November, 1958, 6,077 persons were registered as unemployed in the areas of Hull and Hessle representing 4.1 per cent. of the insured employees. In addition the National Dock Labour Board inform me, that in the week ending 29th November, 1958, the daily average number of dock workers proving attendance for whom no work was available in the ports of Hull and Goole was 684, representing 15.1 per cent. of the number of registered dockers. The question whether Hull should be added to the list of places for which financial assistance is available under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, is for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour if he will state the average and the highest number of Hull's dock worker., who were without jobs in the four weeks of November; whether the Hull dock register is to be maintained; and what steps the Government intend to take to increase the employment in Hull docks.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodDuring the four weeks ending 29th November, 1958, the daily average number of dock workers for whom no work was available in the Port of Hull was 659; the highest number was 1,106 on Saturday, 15th November. The National Dock Labour Board informs me that no dock workers are being recruited at Hull, and the register is being allowed to run down by natural wastage without replacement.
As regards the last part of the Question. employment in the docks is dependent upon the volume of traffic passing through the port. It is for importers and exporters, in co-operation with shipowners, to choose the ports they use, and the Government cannot influence them in favour of a particular port.
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§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Labour what were the numbers of boys and girls, respectively, and the total, who left school in Hull at the end of the summer term, and the numbers who are still out of work.
§ Mr. Wood926 boys and 872 girls, making a total of 1,798, left school at the end of the summer term. Of these, 10 boys and 5 girls were registered as unemployed on 4th December.