asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers unemployed in each of the employment areas in the Leek constituency in January, 1972; what percentages of the working population they represent; and how the percentage figures compare with the national average percentage figure.

Following is the information:

Numbers registered as unemployed at 10th January 1972, in Employment Exchange areas which collectively are similar to the Leek Constituency.
	Total	Temporarily stopped included in total
Leek	387	21
Cheadle	244	—
Biddulph	302	8
Kidsgrove	543	23

The rate of unemployment for Great Britain was 4·3 per cent. and for Leek was 3·1 per cent. The remaining areas are in the Stoke-on-Trent, Biddulph, Burslem, Cheadle, Hanley, Kidsgrove, Longton and Newcastle-under-Lyme travel-to-work area for which the rate was 4·3 per cent.