§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of coal miners unemployed in the mid-Northumberland local employment area; and what is the number aged 55 years and over.
§ Mr Dudley SmithOn 12th February, 945 men who last worked in coalmining were registered as unemployed in the mid-Northumberland area. There is no age analysis of this figure but a special quarterly return in December 1972 of colliery workers unemployed in the area through the contraction of the coalmining industry showed that of 847 such workers 803 were aged 55 and over.
§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled men who qualify for sheltered employment are out of work in the mid-Northumberland local employment area; and what proposals he has to reduce this number.
§ Mr. Dudley Smith126 registered severely disabled men are unemployed in the area, of whom 47 are both suitable for and willing to take the type of work provided by the two Remploy factories serving the area. Ten of these 47 have been accepted for the waiting list and should shortly be given jobs. The remaining 37 will be interviewed as vacancies become available.