HC Deb 27 July 1961 vol 645 cc590-1
25. Mr. Randall

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons employed on the trading estates in the North-East; and the number of jobs in prospect.

Mr. Maudling

Sixty-one thousand, three hundred and ten persons were employed in factories in the North-East administered by the Industrial Estates Management Corporation for England at the end of May; jobs in prospect for Government-financed factories total 7,500.

Mr. Randall

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the figure or percentage of jobs in prospect for skilled workers? If the number of unskilled jobs is disproportionate to the number of skilled workers, how does this make a contribution to the solution of the very serious problem of the number of unskilled unemployed workers in the North-East?

Mr. Maudling

I agree that the number of unskilled unemployed is a serious problem. I will try to obtain the figures if the hon. Member will put down a Question.

Mr. Popplewell

When the right hon. Gentleman says that there are 7,000 jobs in prospect, what period does that cover? Over what period does he expect them to be filled? Is this part of the 22,000 that he mentioned earlier, when he evaded giving an answer when he was asked over what periods he expected these jobs to be filled?

Mr. Maudling

The 7,500 are in respect of Government-financed factories in the North-East. One cannot be exactly certain about the time. The projects put forward in connection with industrial development certificates involving the building of factories may take a year or two. If I am asked to give an exact estimate of the amount of time I should prefer to have notice, in order to give the best figure.

Mr. Jay

In view of the anxieties which are apparent from the Questions put about prospects in the North-East, can the Minister assure us that the Chancellor's statement on Tuesday does not mean that the operation of the Local Employment Act is now being suspended on the North-East Coast and in Wales?

Mr. Maudling

My right hon. and learned Friend's statement did not involve any suspension or diminution of activities under the Local Employment Act.