§ 11. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Labour the present level of unemployment in the Borough and Rural District of Newcastle-under-Lyme; and how it compares with the national average.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe latest available figures relate to 13th May. The number of unemployed persons on the registers of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Employment Exchange at that date represented 2.4 per cent. of the total number of employees in the area, compared with 1.5 per cent. in Great Britain as a whole.
§ Mr. SwinglerIn the light of the decline in the pottery industry which has been going on for some time and the fact that now 600 workers have been sacked by the Government from these Ordnance factories, will not the Minister make some representation to the Minister of Supply to use this magnificent equipment at Radway Green Ordnance factory for conversion to civil production?
§ Mr. MacleodThese figures are certainly high and I have constantly put before my colleagues the labour considerations to which the hon. Member referred. I shall be glad to discuss with the hon. Member the last point which he raised.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesHas the Minister really considered converting some of the thousands of square feet which are spare at the Radway Green factory to some kind of civil production? Has his Department really considered this matter with the Minister of Supply?
§ Mr. MacleodAs I indicated earlier, this is not a matter for the Minister of Labour and National Service, but for the Minister concerned, with the Board of Trade.