HC Deb 11 July 1962 vol 662 cc1329-31
9. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are unemployed in the Bishop Auckland travel to work area; how many of these are classified as being in the construction industry; how many are in mining; and how many in transport.

Mr. Green

1,857 on 18th June, of whom 434 were last employed in construction, 362 in coal-mining and 73 in transport and communication.

Mr. Boyden

Is it not very serious indeed, especially at this time of the year, to have nearly 500 men unemployed in the construction industry? Has the Minister made any representations to his Cabinet colleagues that there ought to be an acceleration of public building of schools, houses, hospitals and so on to absorb this serious unemployment?

Mr. Green

We are, of course, deeply concerned about the problems in the area, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman will acknowledge. So concerned are we that it is scheduled as a development district, and we hope very much that this will attract new growing enterprises to the area in time. There are 960 jobs which are expected to arise from new buildings now. The hon. Gentleman—he mentioned hospitals—will also be aware of, for example, the Hospital Plan which my night hon. Friend the Minister of Health is introducing.

Mr. Boyden

But that hardly touches the problem of the area. There is an enormous programme of slum clearance there. Why does not the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend make serious representations to the Minister of Housing and Local Government to provide more money for this aspect of the problem?

Mr. Green

I will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman says. All I am trying to tell him——

Mr. Willis

Do something.

Mr. Green

—is that we are doing something. I am sorry that these things take a little time to mature.

10. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the total migration from County Durham in the first six months of 1962; and what amount of this migration was from the Bishop Auckland travel to work area.

Mr. Green

I regret that this information is not available in this form.

Mr. Boyden

Will the hon. Gentleman keen an eye on this set of figures, because if the migration is still running at the rate shown by the Registrar-General—about 600 a year—from south-west Durham, surely this aggravates the situation referred to in Question No. 9?

Mr. Green

What we do know—I assure the hon. Gentleman that we keep a very close watch on it—is the net loss by migration from the northern region. The figures are collected regionally, and I suggest that it makes more sense to continue to do that, because there is a substantial amount of movement within the region which would have to be discounted if we collected figures within region's.

Mr. Ainsley

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the area there are 2,500 juveniles unemployed? What does the Board of Trade, which has scheduled the area under the Local Employment Act, intend to do for these young people?

Mr. Green

There is, of course, an obvious connection between the opportunities for young people and the general employment prospects in any one area. I accept that. [Laughter.] I would not have thought it was a laughing matter. It is for this reason that so much of the County of Durham—rather more than half—can now have help under the Local Employment Act, and there are already certain fruits from that. I am certainly not detracting in any way from the seriousness of the situation there, but certain fruits are already apparent in the shape of new buildings and other developments which have already been notified to the Board of Trade. I hope that these developments will continue and prosper.