§ 18. Mr. Boydenasked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs are likely to accrue in the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area between now and 30th June, 1963, and between 1st July and the end of 1963.
§ Mr. D. PriceThe estimated number of new jobs in prospect in any area is the aggregate of their labour requirements provided by firms who have been granted industrial development certificates or have been offered assistance under the Local Employment Act. On this basis the number of jobs likely to accrue in the Bishop Auckland group of development districts within the next two years from projects known to the Board of Trade is about 850, including 500 for males. The rate at which individual firms will build up their labour force depends on so many unknown factors that it is impossible to say how many of these jobs will accrue in a six months' period.
§ Mr. BoydenIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, even allowing for that optimistic figure, there will still be 2,300 people out of work in the area, which is approaching 5 per cent.? Is he further aware that unemployment has now crept into the rural areas of Barnard Castle and Middleton in Teesdale and has trebled in the last two months? Will he at least take some action with other Ministeries to see that an extra amount of public works—like schools and houses which are badly needed in the area—is started in the very near future?
§ Mr. PriceIt was with that sort of consideration in mind that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer earlier this autumn announced that £70 million more would be spent on capital works in Scotland and the North-East.
§ Mr. JayIs it not surprising, when the situation is as bad as this on the North-East Coast and elsewhere, that the Minister in the Department responsible should say that he does not know who is responsible?