Distribution of Industry (Hansard, 22 January 1963)

§ 39. Mr. E. L. Mallalieu
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in considering the desirability of starting new industries in areas of unemployment, he regards as areas needing such industries those wherein comparatively little unemployment is shown in the returns because the inhabitants are in work in other areas, often distant from their homes, to which they have to go to find work owing to the absence of employment near their homes.

§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. David Price)
In determining what is the proper distribution of industry my right hon. Friend takes into account all relevant considerations including the local pattern of travel to work.

§ Mr. Mallalieu
With regard to Barton-on-Humber in my constituency, will the hon. Gentleman say whether he has taken into account the fact that a very high proportion of the working population has to make a very difficult journey to obtain work over a dozen miles away at Scunthorpe, and that the people involved would far rather work at home if they could? Is he aware that in Scunthorpe there is a high rate of employment but that it is almost entirely concentrated on heavy industry, and that it is extremely desirable that there should be some form of light industry for the employment of woman? Have these things been taken into account in regard to the places which I have mentioned?

§ Mr. Price
I can assure the hon. and learned Member that these matters are taken into account and are very much in the mind of myself and of my right hon. Friend.

§ Mr. S. Silverman
When the hon. Gentleman says that all relevant factors are taken into account, is he saying to the House that the Board of Trade takes into account the condition of the population, the official figures of the totally unemployed, all married women who do not appear in those figures, all those who, for long periods, work only part-time, and also the drift of the population from a district because employment cannot be found there? If all these factors are taken into consideration, can the hon. Gentleman explain why northeast Lancashire has not been scheduled under the Local Employment Act?

§ Mr. Price
If the hon. Gentleman cares to put a direct Question about north-east Lancashire, I shall answer it. Regarding the earlier part of his supplementary question, these factors are taken into consideration, but the relevant weighting given to them will vary from one case to the next. Under the Local Employment Act, my Department is particularly concerned with actual unemployment and not unemployment which is largely notional because people have moved to other parts of the country.

§ Mr. Silverman
When he says that all these matters are taken into account, is the hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has written to the Joint Committee in north-east Lancashire stating that they are not taken into account and that this district is not scheduled under the Act for that reason?

§ Mr. Price
I am unable in a general answer to comment on specific cases. If the hon. Member cares to put down a Question about north-east Lancashire, I shall answer it.