78.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons, male and female separately, have signed the Disabled Persons' Register at Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Washington Employment Exchanges; for what periods they have been signing; and why they have not been found suitable employment.
On 14th December, 1970, 169 males and 12 females who are registered as disabled were on the unemployed registers at these Employment Exchanges. Of these, 21 males and one female had been unemployed less than six weeks, 27 males and three females between six weeks and six months, 21 males and one female between six months and a year, and 100 males and seven females over one year. The lack of employment in the area which affects both disabled and able-bodied people has made resettlement difficult. Many of them are also in the older age groups.