§ 56. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what percentage of the unemployed in Hartlepool and in the Northern Region, respectively, are over 40 years of age; how many of them have been unemployed for less than eight weeks, more than eight weeks but less than one year, and more than one year; and what proposals she has to improve the training and job opportunities for this age group.
§ Mr. DellOf all persons registered as wholly unemployed in the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool/Headland Employment Exchanges at 12th January, 1970, 38.8 per cent. were 40 years of age and over. Of the total of 933 aged 40 and over, 211 had been on the registers for up to 8 weeks, 412 for more than 8 and up to 52 weeks and 310 for more than 52 weeks. The corresponding figures for Northern Region were 50.2 per cent., 33,472, 6,732, 14,158 and 12,582.
As part of the Government's development area policies which are designed to raise the level of employment in these areas and to help the unemployed of all ages, new and expanding firms are now being helped to train 40,000 people a year in new semi-skilled jobs. I am considering what further steps could be taken to improve the training opportunities for older workers.