HC Deb 27 November 1963 vol 685 cc93-4W
Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Labour what number of persons were registered as seeking employment in the North-East region at the latest date.

Mr. Godber

53,955 on 11th November.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of young persons who have just left school signing on at the employment exchanges in the North-East region at the latest date.

Mr. Godber

On 11th November out of 21,656 young persons who left school at the end of the summer term, 1,276 were registered for employment at youth employment offices in the North-East.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of mine-workers registering for employment in the North-East region.

Mr. Godber

2,486 on 11th November.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of mine-workers employed in the County of Durham in January, 1952; and what is the number now employed.

Mr. Godber

I understand that at end-January, 1952 107,400 mineworkers were on colliery books in the Durham

and Camborne constituency of Cornwall, at the latest monthly count; and what percentages these were of the numbers of insured persons.

Mr. Godber

Following is the information:

Division of the National Coal Board. The corresponding figure for the week ended 9th November, 1963, was 72,700.

Mr. Shinwell

asked the Minister of Labour what building labour is available in the North-East region for the construction of housing, schools and hospitals; and what plans he has made for training unemployed persons, in the event of a shortage.

Mr. Godber

In mid-1962, the last date for which I have information, the construction industry in the North-East employed 75,100 males. On 11th November, 1963, 8,401 males last employed in the industry were unemployed. There are training classes in building trades at the Tursdale G.T.C. and I am setting up classes at the centre at Felling (Newcastle) and at the new centre to be established at Billingham. When all training is under way, about 300 men a year will be trained in building trades in these centres.