§ 17. Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of persons, males and females, signing the unemployment register in the West Belfast local offices; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the figures.
§ Mr. RossiOn 14 February 1980, there were 7,719 persons registered as unemployed in the parliamentary constituency of West Belfast. This figure consists of 5,888 men and 1,831 women.
This level of unemployment is unacceptably high. However, the Government 338W are doing all that they can to create new job opportunities. As recently announced, three new investment projects with Government assistance, are to be located in the West Belfast area. These should ultimately provide some 1,150 jobs, which, in addition to the 1,800 new jobs in the De Lorean project, means more promising employment prospects in the area.