§ 18. Mr. Ainsleyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in the south-east region of the country, which has 27 per cent. of the population, there were available 45 per cent. of the new jobs created between 1952 and 1959, whereas in West Durham there is a continuing high rate of unemployment; and what steps he now proposes to take to bring new industry to this development area in order to reduce unemployment.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonA considerable part of the increase in working population in the south-eastern part of the country in recent years was not related to industrial building projects. The Board of Trade's control over new employment is confined to industrial building exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. My right hon. Friend will continue his efforts to steer industry to west Durham. In that part of the area which is a development district the facilities of the Local Employment Act are available.
§ Mr. AinsleyThe Parliamentary Secretary acknowledges that greater industrial development has taken place in the south-east region, which is an attraction to workers in other parts of the country, where the basic industries are declining. He has himself paid a fleeting visit to the north-west Durham constituency. Is he aware that two local authorities there expressed their concern that the situation was deteriorating rapidly, and that nothing has come so far as the Advisory Panel is concerned? Is he also aware that I myself have sponsored three local projects which have been turned down, without any reason stated, though they were favourably commented upon by Members from the region and the central office? What is the Minister doing?
§ Mr. MacphersonThere has also been an increase in the number of insured employees in the County of Durham of 44 per cent., which is roughly in ratio with the populations of the respective parts of the country. As I have already said today, there are a thousand jobs in prospect in the Bishop Auckland development district at the present time.
§ Mr. ChetwyndWould the Minister bear in mind the fact that this part of the North-East is typical of the other development districts, but that it seems to be becoming worse off than other regions? In considering the matter, will he bear in mind that this development district represents 13 per cent. of the unemployed in all development districts, that it gets only 6 per cent. of the new factories and only 1.4 per cent. of Government aid in grants and loans?
§ Mr. MacphersonWe are doing our very best to bring employment, and we are succeeding substantially, especially in the coastal region.