§ 18. Mr. Milneasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of new jobs likely to be available in the Blyth constituency during the next six months.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonIn the combined employment exchange areas of Bedlington Station, Blyth and Seaton Delaval, which comprise most of the hon. Member's constituency, expansions by local firms should produce about 700 new jobs over the next three or four years. I cannot say how many of these will become available during the next six months.
§ Mr. MilneI thank the hon. Member for the figures and the slight encouragement which they give to the area, but does he not realise, from the visits which he and his right hon. Friend have paid to my constituency, that something bold and imaginative is required to tackle the problems of the area? Will he consider scheduling the south-east of Northumberland as a development district?
§ Mr. MacphersonThis matter is under constant consideration, but the present figures of unemployment do not justify my right hon. Friend in deciding that it comes within the terms of the Local Employment Act.
§ 19. Mr. Milneasked the President of the Board of Trade what new jobs have been made available in the Blyth constituency during the years 1958, 1959, and 1960.
§ Mr. MacphersonIn the employment exchange areas of Bedlington Station, Blyth and Seaton Delaval together, three industrial building schemes were completed in the three years 1958, 1959 and 1960. Blyth "A" power station was also completed within this period. The employment provided by these four schemes is over 400.
§ Mr. MilneIs the hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer merely adds weight to the comments which I made in my supplementary question on the previous Question?
§ Mr. MacphersonIt also adds weight to my reply, because it still remains a fact that the average rates of unemployment over the year were 1.4 per cent. for Bedlington Station, 2.5 per cent. for Blyth, and 3.1 per cent. for Seaton Delaval.