3. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the county borough of Sunderland there are 19,160 of the insured population or over 30 per cent., and in the county borough of South Shields 10,673 or 34 per cent. of the insured population unemployed; and what is being done by his Department with a view to providing work in these areas for those people?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am aware of the position and would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Tuesday last to a similar question relative to the whole of County Durham. I would, however, remind him that as regards Sunderland, the Commissioner for the Special Areas has acquired a site of 17 acres for factory development; two factories are in production and two are in course of erection. As regards South Shields, the Commissioner has made a substantial grant for the acquisition and clearance of a valuable site of 50 acres. I have every hope that these measures will prove of aid in attracting new industries to these areas, for which of course the Government's loan and other facilities are available.
Mr. StewartIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that month by month the figures for these two boroughs are getting worse, and can he say whether, apart from the sites which he mentions, the Government intend to introduce any new works to employ men who, in some instances, have been unemployed for many years?