St. Helens, Lancashire (Hansard, 18 December 1961)

§ 20. Mr. Spriggs
asked the Minister of Labour the total numbers of men, women, boys and girls signing the register of unemployed up to the latest convenient date in the county borough of St. Helens, Lancashire; and what special steps he is taking to provide jobs for these people.

§ Mr. Green
On 11th December there were 765 men, 894 women, 14 boys and 3 girls registered at St. Helens Employment Exchange and Youth Employment 925 Office. Our local officers are making every effort to find them suitable employment.

§ Mr. Spriggs
What special efforts are being made to give the young people a training in industry for apprenticeships or in the professions? If this is not done they will merely join the ranks of the also-rans. Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider the older people who probably have been unemployed for many months or, in some cases, even for years? Will his Department consider increasing unemployment benefit for these people?

§ Mr. Green
The second part of that supplementary question is not one for me. In reply to the first part concerning opportunities for young people, the hon. Member will have seen replies given on this subject by my right hon. Friend. We are very conscious of the need to increase training facilities for young people wherever they may be.

§ 21. Mr. Spriggs
asked the Minister of Labour if he will give an estimate of the number of workers who will lose their jobs in the glass industry in St. Helens, Lancashire, under the present scheme for the reorganisation of the industry.

§ Mr. Green
I am not aware of any general reorganisation scheme for the glass industry. If the hon. Member is referring to a recently announced redundancy by Pilkington Bros., I understand that the number affected will be 238.

§ Mr. Spriggs
Will the Parliamentary Secretary and his right hon. Friend consult the President of the Board of Trade with a view to doing everything in their power to encourage industrialists to take work into areas like St. Helens, because this great county borough could serve as an employing centre for other areas surrounding the perimeter of the borough?

§ Mr. Green
As the hon. Member might expect. I have considerable sympathy with the problems of Lancashire in a personal sense. The unemployment rate in St. Helens is 2.8 per cent., which is below the level set for the immediate operation of the Local Employment Act. None the less, the hon. Member will be aware of the substantial new industries going into Merseyside and north of the Mersey.