HC Deb 24 November 1954 vol 533 cc1248-50
45. Mr. Robens

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the persistence of a high level of unemployment in Northern Ireland, he will convene a conference of appropriate Ministers from both the Northern Ireland Government and the United Kingdom Government over which he would personally preside, in order that practical and concerted action on a large enough scale could be initiated which would ensure that the 5.6 per cent. unemployment in Northern Ireland might be drastically reduced.

The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Harry Crookshank)

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend is concerned about the high level of unemployment in Northern Ireland and he will continue to take a personal interest in the efforts being made by Ministers both here and in Northern Ireland to overcome this problem. But he doubts whether a large Ministerial conference would be helpful at the present time. There is already close contact between the Ministers concerned and they are at present considering a number of suggestions which have been put forward by the right hon. Gentleman and others, notably the local Members.

Mr. Robens

Could the right hon. Gentleman indicate to the Prime Minister that the Ulster Government are quite incapable of solving this problem without the help and assistance of the United Kingdom Government, and that it is a very serious matter indeed? Whilst there is an average high level of unemployment in places like Deny, where it is 20 per cent., and in Newry, where it is 25 per cent., unless something is done to deal with this matter the right hon. Gentleman will be concerned with an explosive political matter.

Mr. McKibbin

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, if a further conference is ever necessary in addition to the frequent conferences which take place between Ministers of both Governments and Ulster Members, that it would be most efficiently directed if it dealt with the high cost of transport, which is the principal reason for the unemployment?

Mr. Rankin

Will the Minister make it clear that this high level of unemployment does not apply to Members of Parliament in Northern Ireland?

Captain Orr

Will my right hon. Friend convey to the Prime Minister that we greatly appreciate his continued interest in the problem? Will he also draw the attention of the Prime Minister to the fact that those hon. Members who represent Northern Ireland have recently made a number of proposals as to the lines on which the United Kingdom Government can assist us, and ask the Prime Minister to give those his personal attention?

Mr. Crookshank

All these points will, of course, be conveyed to my right hon. Friend. I think that if my hon. and gallant Friend reads the reply I have given, he will see that the last point he made is covered.

Mr. Callaghan

Has the Leader of the House nothing to offer in the way of hope to these unemployed people in Northern Ireland? If he rejects the idea of a conference, what prospect is there of placing in employment the people in Newry, Londonderry, Coleraine and other areas, where the situation is reminiscent of the depressed areas of this country in the 1930s? What action are the Government proposing to take to help the Northern Ireland Government to put these people back in work?

Mr. Crookshank

I think the hon. Member could not have followed the reply I gave, which was to the effect that the contacts were there and suggestions were being considered, but, in the view of my right hon. Friend, a large Ministerial conference at the moment would not be necessary. I think it is the experience of many people that large Ministerial conferences do not necessarily bring the desired results.

Mr. H. Morrison

Will the right hon. Gentleman convey to his hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Down, South (Captain Orr) that if he would devote a little more time to the interests of Northern Ireland and a little less time to pushing commercial interests in commercial television, it would be better?

Captain Orr

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there have been times in this House when we have been debating the problems of Northern Ireland, notably on Private Members' Motions, when the presence of the right hon. Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison) might have been a great encouragement?

Mr. Speaker

This question seems to have been thwarted from its original purpose, which was the state of unemployment in Northern Ireland, to which I was prepared to give considerable latitude. I hope that advantage will not be taken of that.

Mr. Callaghan

If a high-level conference is not necessary—it may possibly not be necessary if there are other ways of finding work—may I repeat the question to the Leader of the House, what action is proposed? Why is the hon. and gallant Member for Down, South (Captain Orr) not ready to receive deputations of unemployed in his constituency, when they have asked on more than one occasion to see him and he has refused?

Mr. Crookshank

My hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Down, South (Captain Orr) is quite capable of looking after himself, but I must say that I very much resent these attacks upon him. I am sure that that is true of all my hon. Friends. As to the question which the-hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan) put, I repeat what I answered on behalf of my right hon. Friend, that he doubted whether such a large Ministerial conference would be helpful at present. The hon. Member asked other questions about what is to happen and so on, but that, of course, is quite out-with the terms of the Question on the Paper, which is merely concerned with whether or not a conference will be convened, and on that point I have given an answer.

Captain Waterhouse

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not grossly against the traditions of this House to use Question time for one hon. Member on the back benches to attack another hon. Member on the back benches?

Mr. Speaker

I believe I have already expressed myself on that matter.