§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which of the standard regions the four-week rule was operative in (1) May and (2) November 1971 and 1972.
§ Mr. DeanFollowing is the information:
May 1971—Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands and East Anglia, West Midlands, North Western (Manchester), North Western (Merseyside), London North, London South, London West, South Western regions, and Wales.
November 1971—East Midlands and East Anglia, West Midlands, London North, London South, London West, and South Western regions.
May 1972—West Midlands, London South, London West, South Western and North Western (Merseyside) regions.
November 1972—West Midlands, London North, London South, London West and South Western regions.
Application of the rule depends on the local employment situation and not all offices in any of the regions mentioned were operating it at any given time.