§ Q8 Commander Purseyasked the Prime Minister (1) what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the work of the Ministers at present responsible for the reduction of unemployment in Hull;
(2) whether he will appoint a senior Cabinet Minister to co-ordinate the efforts of the several Ministers responsible for dealing with development and unemployment in the Hull area.
§ The Prime MinisterCo-ordination is best secured, as at present, through consultation between the Ministers concerned.
§ Commander PurseyIs the Prime Minister aware that during the war Hull was always referred to as a North-East Coast port? Why cannot the Lord President of the Council be authorised to deal with unemployment in Hull? Why cannot he and other senior Cabinet Ministers be concerned with this problem, in view of the fact that the Government have been unable to make any impact on the unemployment situation in Hull? Is nothing to be done by the Government to reduce the figure of 5,000 unemployed in the third port and eighth city of the country, or is Hull to become an evacuation city for the unemployed to move to the South at Government expense for fares and lodgings when they arrive there?
§ The Prime MinisterAt the moment the level of unemployment in Hull is just a little higher than the national average, but I will convey to my noble friend the desire of the hon. and gallant Member that he should go to Hull and examine it properly. I am sure that my noble Friend will be very gratified by the hon. and gallant Member's interest in his work.