§ 3. Mr. Stonesasked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 14,500 jobs promised for the County of Durham during the next few years will 226 be made available within the exchange areas of the Consett constituency.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Niall Macpherson)About 800. But in regard to the replies to this and Questions Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 16 and 63, I should like to explain that the jobs referred to are not "promised", but are based on the estimates of the firms themselves. Moreover, information as to jobs in prospect is classified by employment exchange areas, the boundaries of which in many cases do not correspond with constituency boundaries. For these two reasons the replies should, I suggest, be accepted with reserve, even though they have taken a very considerable time to prepare.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Stones.
§ Mr. WilleyOn a point of order. Was the Minister replying to these Questions, Mr. Speaker, or was he merely referring to them?
§ Mr. SpeakerI think from what the Minister said that he was explaining that he was going to answer, but was making a qualification which applies to one and all so that he will not have to repeat it.
§ Mr. ManuelIt is very difficult, Mr. Speaker, when a Question is on the Order Paper and when the Minister gets up and reels off quickly six or eight Question numbers and one is not sure whether one's own Question is included. I appeal to the Minister to read them again a little slower.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am sure the Minister will help by repeating the numbers of the Questions to which he says that his qualification applies when he comes to give his Answers.
§ Mr. MacphersonThese Questions relate only to Durham. They are Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 16 and 63.
§ Mr. StonesWhile thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that quite a few hundred men and women are unemployed in my constituency and quite a lot of people have to travel outside the district ten and more miles to their employment, thereby lengthening their working day, not to mention the increased travelling expenses? Is the Minister also aware that my division is 227 largely a coalmining area, inevitably declining, and that I am sure the constituents in my division would be very appreciative if his Department could do anything possible in the way of siting new industries in order to provide alternative employment for redundant miners now and in the future?
§ Mr. MacphersonMy right hon. Friend will certainly do his best to bring industries to the hon. Gentleman's constituency, but he must, of course, under the Local Employment Act, give preference to development districts, and the hon. Gentleman's constituency has no development districts in it.