asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were registered as unemployed at the Brixton ex- change at the latest available date; and what was the corresponding figure last year.

Two thousand six hundred and one on 10th June and 2,437 in June, 1962.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bring these dismal figures to the notice of the Colonial Secretary, who recently told the people of Malta that there were tens of thousands of vacant jobs in the south of England, which is certainly not true of the London area, where unemployment and housing shortages would certainly be aggravated if the people of Malta were so foolish as to follow the Colonial Secretary's advice?

Whatever the hon. Gentleman may say, there is no doubt that in certain trades and in certain parts of London and the South-East there are vacant jobs which cannot be filled.