§ 31. Mr. A. J. Irvineasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, by provision for or encouragement of new basic industries on Merseyside, he will take in order to reduce the relatively high level of unemployment in the area.
§ Mr. J. RodgersThe Board of Trade has recently agreed to build a new factory of 450,000 square feet at Kirkby for the British Motor Corporation which will employ 1,500 people. I shall continue to do all I can to persuade other industrialists to establish new factories on Merseyside and in the other areas of high unemployment.
§ Mr. IrvineWhat the hon. Gentleman refers to is a move in the right direction, but does he agree that it does not go nearly far enough? Does he not agree that what is necessary is the setting up in the area of major projects which will absorb a larger number of the unemployed in the area?
§ Mr. RodgersI agree that new firms need to be introduced into the area, but I must point out to the hon. and learned Gentleman that it is estimated that over 10,000 new jobs are already in the pipeline.