§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the number of unemployed registered at Barnstaple Employment Exchange for the Ilfracombe area as at 10th October, 1966 represents 10.2 per cent. of the employed population and that this is 2.6 per cent. in excess of the figure for the comparable period last year; and what steps he now proposes to take to provide employment for those out of work.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe figures quoted by the hon. Member are those for Ilfracombe Employment Exchange area; for the Barnstaple Employment Exchange area, for which separate figures are produced, the unemployment rate on 10th October was 3.1 per cent. compared with 2.9 per cent. for October, 1965.
At both offices the number of vacancies notified but unfilled was higher on 5th October than at the same time last year. Our local officers are doing all they can to help the people who are seeking employment. The Board of Trade has
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NUMBERS EMPLOYED IN THE COAL MINING, GAS, ELECTRICITY AND RAILWAYS INDUSTRIES AND PERCENTAGES THAT THESE FORM OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN ALL INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES (Thousands) Coal mining Gas Electricity Railways Numbers employed Percentage of all employees Numbers employed Percentage of all employees Numbers employed Percentage of all employees Numbers employed Percentage of all employees Mid-1948 … 794.3 4.0 136.0 0.7 157.1 0.8 565.4 2.8 Mid-1956 … 782.6 3.6 141.1 0.7 201.0 0.9 499.0 2.3 Mid-1965 … 559.2 2.4 120.7 0.5 245.1 1.1 361.7 1.6 encouraged several firms to set up in Barnstaple and a tenant has recently been found for the advance factory at Ilfracombe. Efforts will be continued to assist the development areas.