§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs have been lost in the sweet and confectionery industry on Merseyside over the past four years;
(2) how many jobs have been lost in the edible oil industry on Merseyside in each of the past four years to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI regret that the information is not available. The number of net job losses or gains may be calculated by comparing employment figures at different dates, but these are not available for areas below regional level except from censuses of employment. Information is available from the June 1978 census but local results of the following census—for September 1981—are not yet ready.