§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average monthly increase in unemployment in Great Britain since March 1974; and what were the dates of the last period of similar length during which unemployment rose as fast.
§ Mr. GoldingBased on seasonally adjusted figures, which exclude school leavers, the average monthly increase between March 1974 and July 1976 in the numbers unemployed in Great Britain was 24,600. Between July 1948, when the current series of unemployment statistics started, and March 1974, there was no period of similar length when this figure was exceeded.
Sanquhar … … 17.1 Lesmahagow … … 16.6 Stornoway … … 14.5 Campbeltown … … 11.8 Stranraer … … 11.4 Cumbernauld … … 10.9 Kilbirnie … … 10.5 Newton Stewart … … 10.4 Wick … … 10.4 Kilsyth … … 10.0 Irvine … … 9.6 Arbroath … … 9.2 North Lanarkshire … … 9.2 Shotts … … 9.1 Dumbarton … … 8.7