Durham (Hansard, 29 January 1971)

§ Mr. Armstrong
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of men unemployed in Durham County at the latest count; what percentage rate this represents; how many of those so registered were over 55 years of age; and what were the corresponding figures for June, 1970.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
At 11th January, 1971, there were 30,660 males registered as unemployed in Durham County: 30,432 were wholly unemployed of whom 8,883 were 55 years of age or over. The corresponding figures for 13th July, 1970, were 27,266, 26,677 and 8,738, respectively. Age analyses of the wholly unemployed are not available for June, 1970. Because parts of Durham are in the Tyneside and Teesside travel-to-work areas, meaningful percentage rates of unemployment cannot be calculated for the county. The figures for January, 1971, are provisional.

§ Mr. Armstrong
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men were registered as unemployed at the Durham Exchange at the latest count; what percentage rate this represents; how many men were in the age groups 55 years or over, 26 years to 54 years and under 26 years; and how many in each age group specified had been unemployed for more than six months.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
Following is the information available:
latest count; what percentage rate this represented; how many men were in the age groups 55 years or over, 26 years to 54 years and under 26 years; and how 211W many in each age group specified had been unemployed for more than six months.

NUMBERS OF MALES REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT 11TH JANUARY, 1971 IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE CROOK EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE

Up to 24 years of age Aged 25 to 54 Aged 55 and over Total, males of all ages

Total registered unemployed — — — 638

Temporarily stopped and casual workers — — — 9

Wholly unemployed except casual workers 88 268 273 629

Of whom, registered for more than 26 weeks 8 93 207 308

The rate of unemployment for males in the Bishop Auckland, Crook, Shildon and Spennymoor travel-to-work area was 9 per cent. Rates cannot be calculated for Crook alone.

§ Mr. David Watkins
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the number of redundancies in County Durham between 18th June, 1970, and 21st January, 1971, listing the places of employment at which they occurred and the numbers in each establishment.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
About 5,200 men and women were notified as involved in redundancies in this period. The precise number at any individual establishment is often given to my Department in confidence, but I shall write to the hon. Member giving such information as I am able to provide.

§ Mr. David Watkins
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the total number of redundancies in the Northern Region between 18th June, 1970, and 21st January, 1971, occurred in County Durham.

§ Mr. Dudley Smith
68 per cent. of those notified were in County Durham.

NUMBERS OF MALES REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT 11TH JANUARY, 1971 IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE CROOK EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
	Up to 24 years of age	Aged 25 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total, males of all ages
Total registered unemployed	—	—	—	638
Temporarily stopped and casual workers	—	—	—	9
Wholly unemployed except casual workers	88	268	273	629
Of whom, registered for more than 26 weeks	8	93	207	308
The rate of unemployment for males in the Bishop Auckland, Crook, Shildon and Spennymoor travel-to-work area was 9 per cent. Rates cannot be calculated for Crook alone.