§ Mr. Pentlandasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the number of employees who have been declared redundant as a consequence of the closing down of firms operating in the Northern Region of England, since 18th June, 1970;
(2) what is the number of employees who have been declared redundant as a consequence of firms reducing their labour force in the Northern Region of England, since 18th June, 1970.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithNot all redundancies are notified to my Department. However, records show that since 1st July, 1970, the nearest convenient date, redundancies involving 16,700 workpeople have taken place as a result of closures or reductions in labour forces by firms operating in the Northern Region.
Precise figures are not readily available but it is estimated that just under 50 per cent. of this number lost their employment as a consequence of closures.