§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage unemployment has increased since July 1979 in the following areas of the North-West: the Merseyside special development area, the St. Helens and Wigan development areas and those intermediate areas that are scheduled to lose their assisted area status.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe following table gives the percentage increases in the numbers registered as unemployed between July 1979 and January 1981 in the areas specified. The figures on which the increases are based include school leavers and are not adjusted for seasonal variations.
Percentage increase Merseyside special development area 19.4 St. Helens development area 53.7 Wigan development area 50.7 Employment office areas scheduled w lose intermediate area status Accrington* 118.0 Ashton-under-Lyne* 130.0 Barnoldswick 111.9 Blackburn* 69.1 Bolton* 76.1 Burnley* 98.6 Bury* 109.2 Chester 49.4 Clitheroe 72.5 Crewe* 86.0 Leigh* 79.9 Macclesfield 62.9 Manchester* 72.2 Nelson* 134.7 Northwich* 101.1 Oldham* 138.6 Ormskirk* 39.4 Preston* 71.3 Rochdale* 105.6 Rossendale* 146.3 Warringlon* 59.9 *Travel-to-work area comprising two or more employment office areas.