Sunderland (Hansard, 5 November 1962)

§ 27. Mr. P. Williams
asked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken to reduce unemployment among school leavers in Sunderland in the last three months.

§ Mr. Hare
Of the 1,737 school leavers in the county borough of Sunderland in July, 121, or 7 per cent., were registered for employment on 15th October; the Youth Employment Service is doing everything possible to find them suitable jobs.

§ Mr. Williams
Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the possibilities of ameliorating this situation would be if employers and trade unionists could agree to some scheme to take super-numery apprentices, with no automatic guarantee of a job at the end of the day, but with at least the hope of reducing the immediate impact of this situation and thereby creating the further skilled labour which Britain will dramatically need in the next twenty years?

§ Mr. Hare
My hon. Friend has mentioned this matter before, and I am grateful to him. I am interested in it and will pursue it with both sides of industry.

§ 28. Mr. P. Williams
asked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken to reduce unemployment in Sunderland in the last three months.

§ Mr. Hare
My local officers have continued to try to place unemployed workers in suitable employment.

§ Mr. Williams
Is my right hon. Friend aware that speeches such as that made by the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in Newcastle last week are inclined to undermine all the good work that has been done by the Government over recent months? Is he aware that if speeches of this nature are to be made there will be no chance of mending this situation? Is he aware that those of us who represent north-eastern divisions are bitterly resentful of this speech and hope that something can be done to correct the impression it has created?

§ Dame Irene Ward
Is the Prime Minister coming to answer?

§ Mr. Willey
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Pensions, since he was previously at the Board of Trade, is largely responsible for the neglect we have suffered in Sunderland? Is he aware that in addition to the question of the 900 jobs at Thorn's we have 6 per cent. unemployed, but in spite of this we receive no assistance under the Local Employment Act? When will the right hon. Gentleman see the President of the Board of Trade and see that Sunderland is taken off the stop list and put back on the effective list?

§ Mr. Hare
I have mentioned the fact, as I think the hon. Member knows, that there will be this contraction at Thorn-A.I.E. but I think that this situation will be helped a little by the intake of female labour at the new Perdio factory. I believe that it will ease the situation somewhat. As for the general situation of Sunderland as a development district, as my hon. Friend explained earlier, these priorities are being constantly looked at and I will bear in mind what the hon. Member has said.

§ Mr. Willey
In view of the unsatisfactory reply just received, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment tomorrow night.