§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current rates, respectively, of male and female unemployment in West Cornwall expressed in numbers and as a percentage.
§ Mr. John FraserOn 9th June 1975, 5,136 males and 899 females were unemployed in employment office areas in West Cornwall; the rates of unemployment were 8.7 per cent. for males and 2.6 per cent. for females.
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§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will convene and chair a meeting of employers, trades unionists and local authorities in West Cornwall to discuss unemployment problems and to seek to find a solution.
§ Mr. John FraserI do not think this is necessary. The Manpower Services Commission is setting up a national network of district manpower committees to advise on local employment and training questions. The membership of these committees will include representatives of employers, trade unions and local authorities.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in view of his recent assurances to Cornish trade unionists that Cornish unemployment was a special case, if he will now indicate what special solution he envisages;
(2) what plans he has to resolve the high level of unemployment in West Cornwall.
§ Mr. John FraserAlmost the whole of Cornwall is a development area and already benefits from assistance under the 1972 Industry Act. It is the policy of the Government to improve employment opportunities in areas of high unemployment such as Cornwall through an active
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AVERAGE GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS—APRIL OF EACH YEAR Men Percentage increase 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1970–74 £ £ £ £ £ Collective agreements Nurses and midwives Whitley Council* 23.50 26.10 28.50 29.70 32.80 39.6 Teachers in primary and secondary schools—England and Wales* 35.90 36.20 41.80 46 10 52.30 45.7 Civil Service—executive grades* 42.70 45.50 52.50 52.50 68.30 60.0 National Health Service ancillary staff Whitley Council†* 22.00 25.70 27.80 29.20 37.30 69.5 Post Office manipulative grades† 27.50 28.50 33.30 36.00 44.00 60.0 Local authorities manual workers NJC—England and Wales† 21.20 24.30 26.60 31.20 35.50 67.5 Engineering—manual workers (United Kingdom)† 29.00 31.50 34.80 40.20 45.40 56.6 Industries Agriculture and horticulture† 18.90 21.20 24.30 27.80 35.40 87.3 Catering services† 18.60 20.20 22.40 26.20 30.50 64.0 Textiles† 24.80 27.40 30.80 35.20 40.90 64.9 Occupation Bus and coach drivers† 27.10 31.00 33.90 39.90 46.70 72.3 regional policy, and I do not envisage any additional measures exclusive to the county.