§ 9. Mr. Palmerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will add Loftus, in the Cleveland Parliamentary constituency, to the list of places where Government assistance under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958, will be available.
§ Mr. J. RodgersThe criterion for adding a place to the list is high and persistent unemployment, and I am glad to say the Loftus is not in this category.
§ Mr. PalmerIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that general unemployment is rapidly mounting in the Cleveland constituency, that the Iron and Steel Board has already withdrawn the subsidy for ironstone mining in East Cleveland, and the neighbouring areas of Scarborough and Whitby are included? Will not he think about the position of Loftus?
§ Mr. RodgersIf the unemployment situation makes it necessary, Loftus will certainly be added to the list, but I would point out that the I.C.I. factory at Wilton is within daily travelling distance, and, while it is true that recruitment is not taking place there at the moment, the company will require up to an additional 1,000 employees in the next twelve months, which should help.
§ Mr. FortWill my hon. Friend remember north-east Lancashire and not allow that name to be expunged from his memory as a result of this terrible attack by the North-East?
§ Mr. Rodgers indicated assent.