§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures on Merseyside.
§ Mr. GoldingAt 11 January, 87,344 people were registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area. This represents an unemployment percentage rate of 11.6 per cent. The Government recognise that the level of unemployment on Merseyside remains far too high but we are determined to do all we can to reduce it substantially. In addition to the various forms of financial assistance, which as a special development area it receives under the Government's regional policy, Merseyside has benefited from the wide range of special employment and training measures which have so far helped over 55,000 people there. The success of many of these measures, particularly those directed towards young people, depends to a large extent upon the co-operation of employers, trade unions, local authorities and voluntary organisations and I would appeal to them to do all they can to help. Merseyside will also benefit from the assistance granted under the Government's inner city policy to the Liverpool partnership.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of unemployed under 18 years, between 18 years and 30 years, 30 and 50 years, and 50 and 65 years, respectively, on Merseyside at the latest available date.
§ Mr. GoldingFollowing is the information for the Merseyside special development area at 12 October 1978, 441W the latest date for which the quarterly age analysis is available.
NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED Age under 18 13,081 18 to 29 37,412 30 to 49 23,700 50 to 64 13,835
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many construction
Special development areas Numbers registered as unemployed who last worked in the construction industry Percentage rate of unemployment in the construction industry Merseyside … … … … 10,713 23.1 North-East … … … … 13,450 19.1 West Cumberland … … … 632 15.3 North-West Wales … … … 1,029 16.5 South Wales … … … … 3,200 18.3 Dundee and Arbroath … … … 917 11.0 Girvan … … … … … 59 22.1 Glenrothes … … … … 134 8.1 Leven and Methil … … … 145 8.1 Livingston … … … … 200 12.3 west Central Scotland … … … 13,537 16.1 All special development areas—excluding Merseyside 33,303 17.3 The numbers unemployed relate to the employment office areas which comprise the special development areas. The unemployment rates have been calculated for the "best-fit" of complete travel-to-work areas, the rates for Glenrothes and Leven and Methil are for the Kirkcaldy travel-to-work area while for Livingston the rate is that for the Bathgate travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the construction industry on Merseyside, in the light of the recent unemployment figures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.