§ 40. Mr. Corfieldasked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act in the Filton area of South Gloucestershire, in view of the increased unemployment in the Bristol area and the uncertainties affecting the aircraft industry and of the fact that it remains the largest employer of labour and is likely to be affected by considerable redundancies.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganThe rate of unemployment in the Bristol area, which includes Filton, is not such that it qualifies under the Act.
§ Mr. CorfieldWill my hon. Friend bear in mind the preferability of anticipating events instead of waiting until they overtake his Department?
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganThe rate for wholly unemployed workers in this area is at the moment 2.3 per cent.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister of State aware that the unemployment figure in Bristol is higher than it has been for twenty years? When will he take steps to help the situation concerning employment?
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganIt is substantially lower than the national average.