HC Deb 17 December 1953 vol 522 c544
1. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Labour how many industrial rehabilitation centres have been set up by his Department on the Tees-side for industrial workers; and what steps he intends to take in this area to extend such facilities for those industrial workers who are recommended to take such courses of rehabilitation.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

No industrial rehabilitation unit has been set up on Tees-side as the numbers likely to require these facilities do not justify it. Residential facilities are available at units elsewhere.

Mr. Slater

Is the Minister aware that this question of industrial rehabilitation has been causing concern on Tees-side? Is he further aware that here is one of the most highly industrialised parts of this country, and does he not think that further consideration should be given to such a project as this on Tees-side?

Mr. Watkinson

We are very sympathetic to the point raised by the hon. Gentleman, but our difficulty is that to make it possible to have an industrial rehabilitation unit we want an annual demand of about 600 people for these facilities. I have no evidence at all that this kind of demand can be expected.

Mr. Marquand

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the existence on Tees-side of a former mansion which was bought by a private hospital and has never been used for this purpose, and would not the opening of such a place by his Department mean that many men who have now to go to London would receive their treatment on Tees-side?

Mr. Watkinson

The same answer applies to the right hon. Gentleman. We have not—though we are quite prepared to look at this again—enough evidence at the moment that there are the cases to justify opening a centre.