HC Deb 05 April 1938 vol 334 cc186-7
41. Mr. W. Joseph Stewart

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the percentage of insured unemployment for the borough of Sunderland is 26.1 and for the borough of South Shields 31.9; and what steps he is taking to deal with this situation?

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Brown)

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given to his similar question on 29th June, 1937. Since then the Commissioner for the Special Areas has acquired a site for a number of factories at Pallion and two tenants have already been secured.

Mr. Stewart

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is being done at South Shields?

Mr. Brown

Not at the moment.

Mr. Lawson

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept the figures of one in four unemployed in Sunderland and practically one in three in South Shields, and is anything being done?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman will surely not forget that something has been done, and that there has been provision of a 17-acre estate, for which tenants have already been found.

Mr. Ede

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that doing something for Sunderland is not necessarily doing something for South Shields?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman knows that unemployment figures are not the only test to be applied.

Mr. Ede

Can the Minister point to any other place with as high a figure as this one?

Mr. Brown

Yes, there are several.

Miss Wilkinson

Will the right hon. Gentleman include them in his next survey of prosperity in this country?