HC Deb 28 October 1980 vol 991 c222W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of persons unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area; and what percentage this represents.

Mr. Jim Lester

At 9 October the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area was 72,568, an unemployment rate of 15.2 per cent.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment on Merseyside.

Mr. Jim Lester

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, if he has any plans to pay an official visit to Merseyside to discuss the employment situation.

Mr. Jim Lester

I have paid a number of visits to Merseyside, as have other Ministers in my Department.

I have no plans at present to make a further visit to Merseyside. Earlier this month, however, I had a very useful discussion about the unemployment problems of the area with a delegation of councillors and officials from Liverpool city council and hon. Members representing two Liverpool constituencies.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total of unemployed persons in the Merseyside special development area at the latest available date; and what is the percentage of unemployed.

Mr. Jim Lester

At 9 October the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area was 102,247, an unemployment rate of 14.8 per cent.