HC Deb 31 July 1972 vol 842 cc42-4W
Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage average rate of unemployment for Clacton-on-Sea over the last year.

Mr. Dudley Smith

In the area covered by the Clacton-on-Sea employment exchange, the average rate of unemployment during the period August, 1971 to July, 1972 was 7.2 per cent.

Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage average rate of unemployment for men and women, respectively, in Clacton-on-Sea over the last year; and what was the percentage rate in December, 1969, December, 1970 and December, 1971, and in June, 1969, June, 1970, and June, 1971.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Following is the information:

Percentage rates of unemployment in the area covered by the Clacton-on-Sea Employment Exchange.
Males Females
June, 1969 6.6 0.9
December, 1969 10.3 1.6
June, 1970 6.7 0.7
December, 1970 11.4 1.7
June, 1971 7.8 0.7
December, 1971 13.9 2.4
Average August, 1971 to July, 1972 11.4 2.0

Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average percentage rate of unemployment in Essex and the South-East area compared to that of Clacton-on-Sea, over the last year, in June and December, respectively.

Mr. Dudley Smith

In the following table, the figures for Essex do not include the parts of the county that are in the Greater London Council area.

Percentage rates of unemployment
December, 1971 June, 1972
Essex, outside Greater London 3.7 3.0
South-East region 2.3 1.9
Clacton-on-Sea 8.8 4.9

Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many towns outside development areas and intermediate areas, of a similar size to Clacton-on-Sea, have a higher percentage rate of unemployment;

(2) how many towns of a similar size to Clacton-on-Sea in development areas and intermediate areas, respectively, have a percentage rate of unemployment higher than Clacton-on-Sea;

(3) how many towns in development areas and intermediate areas, respectively, of a similar size to Clacton-on-Sea have a lower percentage rate of unemployment than Clacton-on-Sea.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Rates of unemployment are calculated for employment exchange areas either singly, or grouped to form travel-to-work areas, by expressing the numbers registered as unem- ployed as percentages of the estimated total numbers of employees, employed and unemployed. In the following table, information is shown for employment exchange or travel-to-work areas with more than 12,000 and up to 15,000 employees:

Percentage rates of unemployment at 10th July, 1972 for employment exchange or travel-to-work areas with more than 12,000 and up to 15,000 employees.
Outside Development and Intermediate Areas
Per cent.
Clacton-on-Sea 4.9
Wisbech 5.8
Within Development and Intermediate Areas
Higher than Clacton-on-Sea
Elgin* 5.0
Cumnock 5.7
Hemsworth* 9.4
Lower than Clacton-on-Sea
Galashiels 1.9
Brighouse 2.0
Shaw* 2.5
Skipton 2.9
Oswestry 3.8
Rhyl 4.8
Ystradgynlais* 4.8
* Travel-to-work area.