§ 1. Commander Keransasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the present rate of unemployment in the Hartlepools; and What prospects there are of further industries and expansions in the area.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Reginald Maudling)At mid-July there were 1,278 registered as wholly unemployed in the Hartlepools group of employment exchange areas, a rate of 3.5 per cent. About 1,500 jabs are in prospect. Since I answered a similar Question by my hon. and gallant Friend on 30th March, 1961, several firms have shown interest in going to the Hartlepools area.
§ Commander KeransWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I paint out to him that the Hartlepools are now the second worst hit area in the North-East for employment? Can he say what prospects there are in the future, bearing in mind that we have nearly 200 school leavers at the moment, a recession in shipping and the possible withdrawal of the Reserve Fleet? Can my right hon. Friend say what the prospects are of the Americans taking an interest in the area?
§ Mr. MaudlingThere are about 1,500 jobs in prospect. I hope that they will all materialise. If they do, they will certainly improve the prospects in the district.