asked the Secretary of State for Employment what, according to the November figures, was the average unemployment rate in areas designated as intermediate areas; in how many employment exchange areas located within areas designated as intermediate the unemployment rate was 3·1 per cent, or less; and in how many employment exchange areas outside areas designated as intermediate or development areas the unemployment rate was 3·1 per cent, or more.
At 9th November, 1970, the rate of unemployment in all intermediate areas combined was 3·6 per cent.
Percentage rates of unemployment are available in some cases for single employment exchange areas and in others for travel-to-work areas which comprise two or more employment exchange areas.
At 9th November, nine employment exchange or travel-to-work areas within the intermediate areas had rates of 3·1 per cent, or less and 77 areas outside the intermediate and development areas had rates of 3·1 per cent, or more.