§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures for Merseyside.
§ Mr. Golding,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th July 1976; Vol. 916, c.77],gave the following information:
On 8th July there were 86,620 people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area.
The increase in the level of unemployment in Merseyside over the last month was broadly in line with the increase in the country as a whole and is in part a reflection of the number of school leavers coming on to the register for the first time. The Government regard the present level of unemployment on Merseyside as totally unacceptable and are particularly concerned about the situation facing school leavers and young people generally. We are currently giving urgent consideration to further measures to help unemployed young people.