§ 2. Mr. Spriggsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the high percentage of unemployed female workers in St. Helens, Lancashire, and what prospects there are, under the Local Employment Act, for the provision of jobs for this pool of available labour.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonMy right hon. Friend is aware of the reply the Minister of Labour gave the hon. Member yesterday. There are currently about 725 female workers in St. Helens registered as unemployed. The rate is 4.3 per cent. as compared with 1,036 or 5.8 per cent. at the same time last year. There are about 600 new jobs for females in prospect. The current percentage of unemployment in St. Helens, male and female, is 2.6 per cent. and my right hon. Friend does not consider that St. Helens qualifies at present to be listed for financial assistance under the Local Employment Act.