§ 54. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of net employment prospects in Hartlepool taking into account the known new job opportunities up to 1975 and any closure of the Hartlepool Steelworks in that year.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithThe hon. Member will be aware that the report of the task force appointed to examine the effect of the closure is being studied by Departments.
It is much too early for me to estimate how successful our efforts to bring comprehensive economic and social assistance to the Hartlepools area will be.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of unemployment to registered vacancies in Hartlepool for men and boys; and how this compares with the Northern Region figures and national figures.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithIn May 1973 the ratio of males unemployed to unfilled vacancies for males in the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland employment exchanges was 23.5 to 1. The ratio for the North Region was 5.2 to 1 and for Great Britain 2.2 to 1. Vacancy statistics relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not 89W measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been wholly unemployed in the Hartlepool exchange area for six months and one year or more, respectively.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithOn 9th April, the latest date for which the information is available, 430 people in the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland employment exchanges had been unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and 926 for over 52 weeks.