asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, were wholly unemployed, and how many were unemployed on at least one day a week, in the Rotherham Employment Exchange area at the latest available date.

739 men and 147 women were wholly unemployed on 10th June and 496 men and 12 women registered as temporarily stopped on at least one day in that week.

Would not the Parliamentary Secretary regard these figures as being extremely unsatisfactory? Is he aware that as a result of short-time working and under-employment in the Rotherham area the pay packets have dropped, it has been estimated, by as much as £2 a week in the last twelve months? What consideration has the Minister given to the implications of technological unemployment? Will he consider this as a matter of urgency so that unemployment and technical change do not go along as concomitants as they are at the moment?

What the hon. Member said about technological advance is extremely important and I respond to it in that spirit. What he said about the position in Rotherham should be seen against the background of the fact that the unemployment rate there at present is 2·2 per cent. It is right to see it against that background.

asked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls are at present unemployed in Rotherham; how many are expected to leave school in July; and how many school-leavers it is expected will be found jobs.

Altogether, 144 boys and girls were unemployed on 10th June. It is expected that about 580 will leave school in July. Although the placing of the summer leavers may take a little time, we are hopeful that they will obtain employment without too great difficulty. The Youth Employment Service will do all it can to help them.

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary find this an unsatisfactory situation? Is he aware that the Youth Employment Service in Rotherham is finding, and has found in the last 18 months, increasing difficulty in finding jobs for these people who are unemployed? Will he take positive steps once again to see that the reduction in demand for young labour through technological change, particularly for young people of lower educational attainments, does not continue and that the situation is improved in the near future?

I must again put the matter in fair perspective. I accept some of what the hon. Member said, but the truth is that, although there were 334 Easter school leavers, the number still registered for first employment in mid-June was 33. This shows that considerable progress has been made.