4. Mr. Slaterasked 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 be made available within the exchange areas of the Sedgefield constituency.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonAbout 2,200.
Mr. SlaterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that what he had to say in reply to my Question on 21st February and what he has had to say today in no way allays my fears in regard to employment for the people in a part of my constituency which is in the Sedgefield rural district? Is the Minister further aware that if the redundancies continue to take place in the mining villages we are going to be faced with a situation where we shall have villages without any form of alternative employment whatsoever? What is going to happen to the people who are resident in these villages if there is no alternative employment for them? I certainly hope that the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend will do everything possible to give some form of assistance by bringing alternative employment to these villages in my constituency which will be seriously affected?
§ Mr. MacphersonI am quite aware of what the hon. Member says, but we are certainly watching the employment situation, in the mines particularly, most carefully. There are two employment exchange areas which are development districts covered by his constituency to some extent.