§ 10. Mr. Boydenasked the President of the Board of Trade how the figure of 10,000 new jobs in County Durham was arrived at; where the jobs are expected to accrue; and by what date.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe figure of 10,000 new jobs in the administrative County of Durham was based on confidential estimates by firms of their future employment within the next four years in new and expanding projects in the County. More than half these jobs are expected to accrue before the end of 1962 and a substantial proportion during 1960 and 1961. They are divided between the different parts of the County, excluding county boroughs, approximately as follows:—
| South Tyneside | 2,500 |
| Wearside, Central Durham and areas to the west of Durham | 3,400 |
| North Tees-side and the Hartlepools | Over 3,000 |
| South Durham | 1,000 |
§ Mr. BoydenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has certainly been 1533 delay but not satisfaction? My constituency, or the exchange areas which serve my constituency, have had nearly 2,000 people out of work for over twelve months, and the figure is now running at about 1,700 and 100 boys. What steps does the right hon. Gentleman think will be taken, particularly in the mining areas? Very often the development takes place at Aycliffe and other areas. What developments can he anticipate in the mining areas of the south-west of the county?
§ Mr. MaudlingTaking County Durham as a whole, I think that the position is a good deal better than it was. I entirely agree that there is much more still to be done, but I think that the figure I have given shows that there is probably a lot in the pipeline. In fact, 10,000 is a modest estimate. We can probably go a little higher than that.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are bound to regard these figures somewhat sceptically in view of our past history, when huge figures of potential employment have been stated but, when they have been worked out, they have been less than half of what we were given?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe House is probably entitled to regard any estimates made by Ministers with scepticism. That is one of the main functions of the House of Commons. Having looked at this closely, I feel that these are pretty firm estimates. They are based on what the companies have told us, and 10,000 is a little below the figure I could have stated if I had given the maximum.
§ 17. Mr. Pentlandasked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence, by way of research and economic studies, is being taken by his Department in order to assist him in the preparation of a plan to meet the long-term industrial requirements of the County of Durham.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe preparation of development plans is a matter for the local planning authority. My Department is, of course, responsible under the Local Employment Act for determining the development districts in which the assistance provided by the Act can be made available for the encouragement of new enterprises and reports on the 1534 industrial situation in parts of the country, including the County of Durham, where special problems reveal a need for additional employment, are made by my regional officers in the area as occasion requires.
§ Mr. PentlandThat is not enough. Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that what is really needed in the County of Durham is a positive plan that will indicate quite clearly what the county's future industrial prospects are? Is he aware that one-third of the working population of the county is engaged in the basic industries that are now in a phase of contraction? We already have much adult and juvenile unemployment, and the provisions in the Local Employment Act are only scratching the surface of the problem. What is to happen to the county in the future?
§ Mr. MaudlingI will certainly tell the hon. Member all I can, but I am sure that the preparation of local development plans is best left to local authorities, who understand the position best. In the Board of Trade, we try to steer industrial development into areas like Durham, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where there is a serious unemployment problem, but I cannot predict what will happen in five years' time, because I do not know which industries, in five years' time, will be trying to expand and, therefore, what there will be available to steer.
§ Mr. PentlandIs it not the case that there is to be a contraction in the colliery areas? Is any plan forthcoming from the Government to meet that emergency when it arises?
§ Mr. MaudlingOur plan is to try to steer industry to the area, and from the figures I gave I think that it is quite clear that quite a substantial amount of new employment is likely to accrue to the County of Durham in the next few years.