§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time workers employed in the Warley area have been reduced to a three-day week; and how this change has affected weekly earnings in terms of cash and as a percentage.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkI estimate that about 16,600 workers in the Warley area were temporarily stopped and claiming 31W unemployment benefit on 21st January. Information about the effect on weekly earnings is not available.
§ Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest figures showing the number of persons put on short-time as a result of the three-day week.
ESTIMATES OF NUMBER LAID OFF AND CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT Region Monday 14th January 1974 Thursday 7th January 1974 Monday 21st January 1974 Northern … 40,000 (41,807) 34,000 36,000 Yorkshire and Humberside … 108,000 (108,491) 74,000 97,000 Eastern and Southern … 76,000 (154,786) 76,000 64,000 London and South Eastern … 65,000 70,000 69,000 South Western … 23,000 (21,210) 18,000 23,000 Wales … 26,000 (26,260) 32,000 24,000 Midlands … 325,000 (329,196) 275,000 317,000 North Western … 152,000 (164,805) 112,000 160,000 Scotland … 60,000 (67,274) 70,000 57,000 TOTALS … 875,000 (913,829) 761,000 847,000 Department of Employment—MGD: The figures in brackets show the actual count of workers temporarily stopped on 14th January 1974.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Employment why workers on a three-day week from Monday to Wednesday receive one day less unemployment benefit than those working from Thursday to Saturday; and if he will take steps to end this distinction.
§ Mr. DeanI have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Petersfield (Miss Quennell) on 25th January.—[Vol. 867, c.384–5.]