HC Deb 28 April 1953 vol 514 cc1941-2
19. Mr. F. Willey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of persons, men and women, separately, are employed in North Eastern Trading Estate Company factories.

Mr. Mackeson

On 28th February, 1953, the latest date for which official statistics are available, 18,063 men and boys, 25,590 women and girls, making a total of 43,653 were employed in these factories.

Mr. Willey

Is not the hon. Gentleman disturbed that the factories are still employing fewer people than they did when the present Government took office, as, contrary to this, we expected the factories now to be employing about 15,000 more had they continued the rate of progress made under the previous Government?

Mr. Mackeson

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the statistics he will see that there has been an increase in employment.

Mr. Willey

Will the hon. Gentleman compare his figure with the figure the Parliamentary Secretary gave about 30th September, 1951?