§ 5. Mr. Shortasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recent official announcement that 6,000 new jobs are to be provided on Tyneside and Wearside, if he will now give details of the factories concerned.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe estimate of more than 6,000 new jobs to accrue in South Tyneside and Wearside is to a large extent based on confidential information provided by the firms concerned. The projects expected to provide the jobs include those recently announced by Pressed Steel, Patons and Baldwins, Jackson the Tailor, Sigmund Pumps and Smith's Delivery Vehicles.
§ Mr. ShortIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we will watch these announcements, when they cease being 362 confidential, very carefully? Is he aware that we welcome these jobs and are grateful for what he has done, but that in face of the actual problem in the North-East, and much more so the potential problem, we can regard this only as a small beginning? Is he further aware that, in view of the contraction in coal mining and the recession in shipbuilding, and more so in ship-repairing, we feel that some big industry should be brought to the North-East? While we welcome what has been done, we can regard it as only a small beginning.
§ Mr. MaudlingI am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's welcome of what has been done. I agree that it is only a beginning, but it is not quite as small as all that. Certainly there is a long way to go yet.