asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time workers employed in the Warley area have been reduced to a three-day week; and how this change has affected weekly earnings in terms of cash and as a percentage.
I estimate that about 16,600 workers in the Warley area were temporarily stopped and claiming unemployment benefit on 21st January. Information about the effect on weekly earnings is not available.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest figures showing the number of persons put on short-time as a result of the three-day week.
| ESTIMATES OF NUMBER LAID OFF AND CLAIMING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT | |||||
| Region | Monday 14th January 1974 | Thursday 7th January 1974 | Monday 21st January 1974 | ||
| Northern | … | 40,000 | (41,807) | 34,000 | 36,000 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | … | 108,000 | (108,491) | 74,000 | 97,000 |
| Eastern and Southern | … | 76,000 | (154,786) | 76,000 | 64,000 |
| London and South Eastern | … | 65,000 | 70,000 | 69,000 | |
| South Western | … | 23,000 | (21,210) | 18,000 | 23,000 |
| Wales | … | 26,000 | (26,260) | 32,000 | 24,000 |
| Midlands | … | 325,000 | (329,196) | 275,000 | 317,000 |
| North Western | … | 152,000 | (164,805) | 112,000 | 160,000 |
| Scotland | … | 60,000 | (67,274) | 70,000 | 57,000 |
| TOTALS | … | 875,000 | (913,829) | 761,000 | 847,000 |
| Department of Employment—MGD: The figures in brackets show the actual count of workers temporarily stopped on 14th January 1974. | |||||
asked the Secretary of State for Employment why workers on a three-day week from Monday to Wednesday receive one day less unemployment benefit than those working from Thursday to Saturday; and if he will take steps to end this distinction.
I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Petersfield (Miss Quennell) on 25th January.—[Vol. 867, c. 384–5.]