§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the employment position and prospects for the Bournemouth area and the rate of unemployment.
§ Mr. GoldingThe unemployment rate for the Bournemouth travel-to-work area in March 1977 was 7.1 per cent. which was above the regional, 6.9 per cent., and national, 5.8 per cent., average rates. However, there was a welcome decrease in the number unemployed in the area both between January and February and between February and March. There has also been a significant increase in the numbers of notified vacancies over the last month. I hope that this encouraging trend will continue. I am also pleased to say that a total of 295 people, up to mid-March, have been helped by the special measures in Bournemouth.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the total number of job vacancies in the area covered by the Bournemouth employment office on a convenient date in January and February 1977, respectively;
(2) what was the total number of unemployed males and females in the area covered by the Bournemouth employment office on a convenient date in January and February 1977, respectively.
§ Mr. GoldingFollowing is the information:
Bournemouth Employment Office Area Notified vacancies remaining unfilled Employment Office Careers Office January 1977 — 51 February 1977 172 53 Number unemployed Males Females January 1977 3,629 1,281 February 1977 3,729 1,173 The unemployment figures include young people registered at the Bournemouth careers office. The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to the employment office and careers office. 728W Because of possible duplication the two series should not be added together, nor do they constitute a measure of total vacancies in the area. Vacancy information for January 1977 is not available for the employment office because of industrial action.