HC Deb 17 June 1981 vol 6 cc390-2W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the industries in Stoke-on-Trent in which there have been increases in unemployment or short-time working since May 1979; and what proportion of the labour force in each industry is affected.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply]: The following table gives for the area covered by the Burslem, Hanley, Longton and Stoke employment offices the numbers registered as unemployed at May 1979 and May 1981 and the increases between these dates. The figures are analysed according to the industry orders of the standard industrial classification in which the unemployed person last worked. The proportion of the labour force affected could be calculated only at disproportionate cost. Statistics of short-time working are not available for local areas.

May 1979 May 1981 Increase
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 14 41 27
Mining and quarrying 414 528 114
Food, drink and tobacco 97 191 94
Coal and petroleum products 3 5 2
Chemicals and allied industries 40 83 43
Mechanical engineering 124 675 551
Electrical engineering 69 249 180
Shipbuilding and marine engineering 3 7 4
Vehicles 14 136 122
Metal goods not elsewhere specified 26 147 121
Textiles 23 60 37
Leathers, leather goods and fur 4 12 8
Clothing and footwear 45 274 229
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 1,284 4,226 2,982
Timber, furniture, etc. 17 90 73
Paper, printing and publishing 58 104 46
Other manufacturing industries 33 102 69
Construction 524 1,840 1,316
Gas, electricity and water 32 49 17
Transport and communication 158 530 372
Distributive trades 387 1,227 840
Insurance, banking, finance and business services 89 194 105
Professional and scientific services 123 267 144
Miscellaneous services 329 1,092 763
May 1979 May 1981 Increase
Public administration and defence 158 268 110
Not elsewhere classified (including school leavers) 904 2,408 1,504