§ 64. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that the total of unemployed fell between February and May this year by only 20,000 compared with 60,000 in previous years, and since then over 423,000 registered as out of work, with 109,000 fewer vacancies than a year ago and 108,000 more people wholly unemployed, and that eight people are seeking work for every five jobs which are offered, if he will restrict immediately further immigration until all United Kingdom citizens have got jobs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GreenNo. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 31st May by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
67. Mr. Pannellasked the Minister of Labour what was the number of Commonwealth immigrants unemployed in the United Kingdom at the May, 1962, count, as compared with the corresponding date in 1961.
§ Mr. GreenOn 1st May, 1962, 34,802 Commonwealth immigrants were registered as unemployed in Great Britain. The number unemployed on 2nd May, 1961, was 15,082. Because of a change in the basis of the statistics, these figures are not strictly comparable.
68. Mr. Pannellasked the Minister of Labour what was the number of Commonwealth immigrants unemployed in the London and south-eastern and Midland areas, respectively, at the May, 1962, count, as compared with the corresponding date in 1961; and what percentages they are of the total unemployment in the said areas.
§ Mr. GreenOn 1st May, 1962, the numbers of unemployed Commonwealth immigrants were 14,278 and 10,590 for London and South Eastern and Midlands regions respectively; both figures represented 22.4 per cent. of the total adult unemployed registered in those regions. The figure in London and South Eastern Region for May, 1961, was 7,913, representing 17.1 per cent. of the total register. The area of the Midlands region has been considerably enlarged since May, 1961, and I cannot give comparable figures.