§ 18. Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage unemployment has risen in the Ayr employment exchange area since March 1974 for males, females and school leavers, respectively.
§ Mr. GoldingBetween March 1974 and September 1976 the numbers of males registered as unemployed in the Ayr employment office area rose by 120 per cent. and the numbers of females rose by 305 per cent. The figures are not adjusted to take account of normal seasonal variations. The numbers of school leavers registered as unemployed were 17 in March 1974 and 402 in September 1976. This was an increase of 2,265 per cent. This increase in part reflects a substantial difference in the numbers of school leavers at Christmas 1973 and in the summer 1976.