§ 39. Dr. Gilbertasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment for the County Borough of Dudley and the Borough of 349W Stourbridge, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the total employed population; and when the comparable figures were last higher than those figures.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAt 8th November, the numbers registered as unemployed in the Dudley and Stourbridge Employment Exchange areas were 1,682 and 1,407, respectively. The figures were higher for Dudley in March, 1963, and for Stourbridge in February, 1963. Percentage rates of unemployment can be calculated only for the whole of the Dudley travelto-work area, which includes Stourbridge, and at November, 1971, March, 1963, and February, 1963, were 3.9, 3.3 and 4.7 respectively.