HC Deb 20 June 1977 vol 933 cc333-4W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the 30 employment exchange areas with the highest rate of male and female unemployment, respectively.

Mr. Golding

The following table shows the employment office or travel-to-work areas with the highest rates of male and female unemployment at 12th May:

MALES
per cent.
St. Ives … … 27.8
Lesmahagow … … 21.2
Rothesay … … 21.1
Tenby … … 20.4
Cardigan … … 20.3
Kilsyth … … 20.3
Helston … … 19.0
Ufracombe … … 18.8
Lampeter* … … 18.5
Stornoway … … 18.3
Rhyl … … 18.0
Penzance … … 17.1
Milford Haven … … 17.1
Whitby … … 17.0
Newquay … … 16.4
Tywyn … … 16.2
Cambeltown … … 15.6
Hunstanton … … 15.5
Pembroke Dock … … 15.5
Clacton on Sea … … 15.3
Mablethorpe … … 14.8
Margate … … 14.7
Camelford … … 14.6
Wadebridge … … 14.6
Holyhead* … … 14.6
Swaffham … … 14.4
Fishguard … … 14.2
Anstruther … … 14.2
Rednith … … 14.1
Liskeard … … 14.0
FEMALES
per cent.
Forres … … 19.0
Lesmahagow … … 16.8
Millom … … 15.8
Amble … … 14.4
Kilbirnie … … 14.0
Helston … … 13.7
Milford Haven … … 13.6
Dingwall* … … 13.2
Sanquhar … … 12.6
Pembroke Dock … … 12.3
Newton Stewart … … 12.3
Cambeltown … … 12.0
Anstruther … … 11.5
Blaenau Ffestiniog … … 11.3
Cumbernauld … … 11.3
Shotton* … … 11.2
Airdrie* … … 10.8
Irvine* … … 10.3
Arbroath … … 10.2
Dartmouth … … 10.1
Cardigan … … 10.0
Holyhead* … … 9.7
Thurso … … 9.6
Stranraer … … 9.6
Lampeter* … … 9.5
Bathgate* … … 9.5
St. Ives … … 9.4
Widnes* … … 9.4
Mexborough* … … 9.2
Tywyn … … 9.2
*Travel-to-work area.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of young people currently unemployed in Scotland.

Mr. Golding

At January 1977, the latest date for which the half-yearly age analysis is available, 40,967 young people under the age of 20 years were registered as unemployed in Scotland, of whom 24,411 were under the age of 18.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage increase in youth unemployment in each planning region of the United Kingdom taking February 1974 as the base point.

Mr. Golding

The numbers registered as unemployed in Great Britain are normally analysed by age ranges only in January and July each year. Additionally, because of industrial action by some staff within the Department of Employment group, information is not available for January 1974 and January 1975. For these reasons no answer can be given.