§ 10. Mr. Randallasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, as representing the Lord President of the Council, what progress has been made in his general discussion with the North-East Development Council on the development of the electronics industry in the North-East.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethA meeting to discuss this question is being arranged and will take place as soon as a convenient date can be found.
§ Mr. RandallWill the hon. Gentleman tell his noble Friend that this is now the second month in which unfilled vacancies in the northern region are extremely low? For every 100 unemployed there are only eight jobs and, in fact, the situation is worse than in the winter of 1961. Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that the general discussions that are anticipated might be speeded up in order that this new growth industry might be accelerated?
§ Mr. FreethThe difficulty, I understand, has been to find a convenient date on which everybody could be present. The essential point of this meeting is, of course, that there will be representatives of the North-East Development Council, the electronics industry and officials from the Government Departments concerned. This has proved the difficulty, but I understand there is great hope that the meeting will take place before very long.