§ 51. Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of unemployment in the Coatbridge and Airdrie travel-to-work area; and what it was in May 1979.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherOn 14 April 1983, the latest date available, there were 5,013 unemployed benefit claimants—the new basis of the unemployment count—in the Coatbridge area, and 4,582 in Airdrie. The Coatbridge and Airdrie jobcentre areas do not form a self-contained travel-to-work area but are part of the larger North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area; consequently separate unemployment rates cannot be provided for Coatbridge and Airdrie. The unemployment rate for the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area on the same date was 19.8 per cent.
On 10 May 1979, there were 2,728 people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count— in the Coatbridge area and 2,165 in Airdrie; and the unemployment rate for North Lanarkshire was 11.1 per cent.
Note: In addition to Coatbridge and Airdrie, the North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area also includes the jobcentre areas of Bellshill, Blantyre, Hamilton, Larkhall, Motherwell, Shotts, Uddingston and Wishaw.