§ Mr. Haleasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the growing concern about the increase in the recession in the north-west and other regions, he will consider the possibility of making available in the Monthly Digest of Statistics figures of unemployment by area more recent than two months before publication.
§ Mr. SimonThe regional analysis of unemployment is not normally available until about a fortnight after the Monthly Digest of Statistics goes to press. I regret, therefore, that the suggestion in the Question could not be adopted without postponing the publication date of the Monthly Digest and with it the publication of other important series. I would remind the hon. Member, however, that regional figures for the 17th November were included in the Press release by the Ministry of Labour and National Service on 8th December.