§ 28. Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for increasing employment in the Southend area in view of the record level of unemployment in the last few months.
§ Mr. GoldingUnemployment in the Southend travel-to-work area is undoubtedly high, but fell from 7.7 per cent. to 7.1 per cent. between February and April this year. Any further significant improvement in the level of employment must depend on an improvement in the economic situation generally. Our special employment measures, which have recently been extended, are, however, continuing to alleviate the worst effects of the recession. So far 1,200 people in the Southend area have been helped by these.