HC Deb 21 July 1977 vol 935 cc719-21W
Mr. Charles Fletcher-Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements have been made to recompense workers not covered by suitable pay schemes for extra days holidays particularly at Christmas time if they receive no payment for such days.

Mr. Harold Walker

Except for wages council orders and specific provisions applying in certain circumstances under give the unemployment figures for men and women for the Arundel constituency on 1st July 1977, 1st July 1976, 1st July 1975 and 1st July 1974.

Mr. Golding

The numbers registered as unemployed are counted on a selected day each month, generally the second Thursday, and the latest figures are for 9th June. The following table gives the information for June each year:

health and safety legislation to women and young persons, holiday entitlement and holiday pay are matters for voluntary agreement between employers and employees, and arrangements are therefore questions for collective bargaining.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest figures issued of unemployed young school leavers on Merseyside.

Mr. Golding

On 9th June, the latest date for which statistics are available, 10,000 school leavers were registered as unemployed on Merseyside and of these about 5,500 left school on or after 27th May. The placing of summer term leavers is normally spread over a period of several months and it will not be possible to make a reliable assessment of the numbers remaining unemployed after this period until about October.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures on Merseyside.

Mr. Golding

The level of unemployment on Merseyside, which on 9th June stood at 11.1 per cent., continues to give cause for serious concern. As I explained in the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend on 2nd and 29th March, the Government are fully aware of the special problems of the area and have taken action to help. So far, the special measures have helped nearly 27,000 people on Merseyside.

Unemployed young people in Merseyside will also stand to benefit from the new measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 29th June. These were based on recommendations in the recent MSC Report "Young People and Work" and when fully operative will provide nationally work experience or training opportunities for up to 230,000 young people a year.