Sunderland (Hansard, 25 February 1963)

§ 7. Mr. Willey
asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science as representing the Lord President of the Council what reply he has given to the representations made to him by the corporation of Sunderland on his visit to Sunderland on 6th February.

§ Mr. Denzil Freeth
The Sunderland Corporation's representatives made a number of points ranging over a very wide field. These are all being considered. The Sunderland Corporation will be aware that they cannot expect an immediate specific reply to all the points they raised.

§ Mr. Willey
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that he is misinformed and that the Sunderland Corporation do expect an early reply? Is he aware that the point of the representations was that steps should be taken to make the town more attractive to incoming industrialists? Is he aware that that is not a new problem, that the matter has been raised constantly in this House, and can he say when we shall have some action?

§ Mr. Freeth
I am pleased to say that in Sunderland there is more factory space already available and that incoming key workers can be allotted dwellings almost at once. I notice that the council is prepared to improve the airport which exists for private and charter flights, and I have great hope that industrialists will take note of these advantages.

§ 8. Mr. Willey
asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what action he has taken to reduce unemployment in Sunderland.

§ Mr. Denzil Freeth
Any action decided on by the Government in the light of my noble Friend's advice will be announced by the Ministers taking it. I understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that there are 4,000 industrial jobs in prospect for Sunderland.

§ Mr. Willey
Will the Parliamentary Secretary stop evading responsibility? Is he aware that there is no point in the appointment of his noble Friend if we are to be referred to Departmental Ministers? Is he aware that his noble Friend was appointed to perform a task and that the sooner we see that he is seized of that task, the better? When are we to get some action to remedy the position in Sunderland, where we anticipate that the unemployment situation will get worse?

§ Mr. Freeth
The hon. Gentleman is mistaken about the purpose of my noble Friend's appointment. My noble Friend has the same relationships to the North-East as the Minister for Welsh Affairs has to Wales; that is to say, he brings to the notice of his colleagues the things which in his opinion need to be done in the area. Action will be taken only by the Government as a whole.

Mr. Wiley
Is the hon. Gentleman saying that we are to be as disappointed as are our Welsh colleagues?

§ Mr. Freeth
I do not believe that the people of Wales have been disappointed, however disappointed hon. Members opposite may have been.

§ Dame Irene Ward
Will my hon. Friend make it perfectly clear that the terms under which my hon. Friend was appointed and the method of conducting affairs were made perfectly clear to the northern group of Conservative Members of Parliament, and that we shall judge his operations by what emerges from time to time, about which I have the greatest confidence?

Several Hon. Members
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Hon. Members are getting miles away from Sunderland. The Question on the Order Paper relates to Sunderland.