§ 43 and 44. Mr. Sextonasked the Minister of Labour (1) the number of unemployed persons from the South-west Durham area now engaged on temporary work preparing the Team Valley trading estate; and the total number of unemployed from the same special area who are now permanently employed in factories on the same trading estate;
(2) the total number of unemployed persons who have been found work in the factories now opened at the Team Valley trading estate?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Butler)I cannot say how many of the 1,200 persons engaged in laying out the Team Valley Trading Estate have come from Southwest Durham. As regards the number of persons employed in the factories, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. W. Joseph Stewart) on 24th June.
§ Mr. SextonIs the Minister aware that there are hundreds of people in South-West Durham who are 40 miles away from this trading estate, and who, therefore, cannot get work there?
§ Mr. DaltonMay we have an answer? Is there no system whereby the exchanges from which the workers come to the Team Valley Estate are recorded? Is there no record of the places whence they come?
§ Mr. ButlerI understand there is no record of the actual places they which come.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the previous answer to which he referred, he was unable to state how many men were actually being employed in the factories on the trading estate; and why can he not supply those figures?
§ Mr. ButlerThe hon. Gentleman is not correct. In the previous answer to which I referred, the exact number of workers was not given.
§ Mr. ShinwellThat is my point. Why is the hon. Gentleman unable to say how many workpeople are now engaged in these factories?
§ Mr. ButlerThe work in the factories is of a preliminary nature. I can give no exact figures at the present time. When I have the exact figures, I shall give them to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. DaltonWill the hon. Gentleman ask for information from the Employment Exchanges in the area as to how many men have gone from each exchange to this work? The information is available.
§ Mr. ButlerThe expression "South Durham" is a very general one. I will certainly endeavour to get the information if it is in my power to do so.
§ Mr. DaltonIs not the term used "South-West Durham," and is not that well known in the Ministry of Labour by this time?