HC Deb 06 July 1960 vol 626 cc425-6
7. Mr. Ainsley

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of insured persons in the Crook Employment Exchange area in each of the last ten years; what is the present number; and what are the future employment prospects for the area.

Mr. Heath

As the answer to the first two parts of the Question consists of a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Crook is part of a development district and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is making continuous efforts to attract new industry there. A considerable number of additional jobs are already in prospect.

Mr. Ainsley

Is the Minister aware of the deep concern felt by the three local authorities in this area? Will he accept the figures which I have, namely, that, in my conservative estimation, there has over that period been a migration of about 10,000 people from the area and at the moment there are more than 2,000 young people in secondary schools in my area but there is no work available there? Will he impress upon the Board of Trade the need to do something to stop the migration and keep the young people there?

Mr. Heath

I could not accept the figures which the hon. Gentleman has given without checking them. They were not the figures for which he asked in his Question and which I gave in my Answer. Generally, as regards migration, the best answer is that more industry should go to this area, and that is what my right hon. Friend is trying to bring about.

Following is the table:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES (EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED EXCHANGE AT END-MAY OF EACH OF THE YEARS 1952 TO 1959
—— Males Females Total
1952 … 10,450 2,360 12,810
1953 … 10,400 2,280 12,680
1954 … 10,140 2,330 12,470
1955 … 10,000 2,410 12,410
1956 … 9,690 2,370 12,060
1957 … 9,580 2,280 11,860
1958 … 9,180 2,350 11,530
1959 … 8,900 2,390 11,290

Comparable figures are not available for any year before 1952.