§ 19. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the rise in unemployment and short-time working in the Coventry area; and what action he is taking to deal with the situation.
§ Mr. HareYes, I am aware of the substantial increase in the last month, almost entirely among workers temporarily stopped. My local officers are doing all they can to help those who are seeking alternative employment.
§ Mr. EdelmanDoes not this show a very serious natural trend in this area of normally high employment when the level of unemployment is today higher than it was in 1957? Is the hon. Member aware that more than 10,000 men were last week working short time? Is 588 he further aware that in the near future 3,000 aircraft workers are threatened with redundancy? Is it not a case that it is not enough merely to improve the administrative arrangements at the employment exchange? Does not the situation now require in the Midlands area generally that the Government should take appropriate action in order to provide employment?
§ Mr. HareThe major proportion of these workers who are temporarily stopped are in the motor-car and machine-tool industry. I will give the hon. Member a piece of good news. For those affected in the machine-tool industry full-time working is being resumed as from today, though all workers will not be back until Thursday. This will show an improvement over the figures which I have just given. On the general point of the motor-car industry, I think that these are problems which will be discussed in the debate this afternoon. I do not want to anticipate that debate.