HC Deb 17 June 1954 vol 528 cc2256-7
16. Mr. Willey

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons who were employed in the North-Eastern Trading Company's factories in Sunderland on 1st November, 1951.

Mr. H. Strauss

Figures for 1st November, 1951, are not available. On 30th September, 1951, these factories were employing 1,470 men and boys and 4,074 women and girls, making a total of 5,544.

Mr. Willey

Does the Parliamentary Secretary agree that we are now employing in these factories more than 1,000 fewer people than we were when his Government came into office and that this is a most disturbing matter? Will he bestir himself about it and face the particular problem which has caused this considerable decline in the number of employed in these factories?

Mr. Strauss

As the hon. Member is aware, the figures for the factories of the North-Eastern Trading Estate Company generally show that employment was higher at the last available date than it has ever been before, but I cannot say that that applies in every section. The main cause for the decline in the area about which the hon. Member asks was the textile recession. Everything that we can do will, of course, be done.