§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentages of people unemployed in the Huddersfield area in July 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, and the percentage unemployed in January. 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 196W 1971 and 1972; and if he will make a statement on these figures.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithFollowing is the available information:
Information for January, 1972 is not yet available.
Rates of unemployment in the area covered by the Huddersfield Employment Exchange Per cent. July, 1964 0.5 January, 1965 0.6 July, 1965 0.5 January, 1966 0.5 July, 1966 0.4 January, 1967 0.8 July, 1967 0.8 January, 1968 1.4 July, 1968 1.0 January, 1969 1.0 July, 1969 0.9 January, 1970 1.3 July, 1970 1.4 January, 1971 2.2 July, 1971 2.6 December, 1971 3.4
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Employment why unemployment in Huddersfield in December, 1971 was twice as high as December, 1970 and three times as high as December, 1969.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThe following table gives unemployment figures for the Huddersfield employment exchange area for each December from 1969 to 1971.
The main reasons for the increase in the numbers wholly unemployed are the national economic situation and redundancies from textiles.
Wholly unemployed Total register December, 1969 1,054 1,095 December, 1970 1,244 3,354 December, 1971 2,527 3,083 As the many measures we have taken to expand the economy take effect, unemployment in Huddersfield, where the December, 1971, rate of 3.4 per cent. was somewhat below the national average, should come down.