§ 40. Mr. Popplewellasked the Minister of Labour how many workpeople have left the North-East in each of the three years ending April, 1963, respectively.
§ Mr. WhitelawThese figures are calculated for mid-year only. In the years ending mid-1960, mid-1961 and mid-1962 the outward migration of insured employees from the Northern Region exceeded inward migration by 15,000, 14,000 and 10,000 respectively I regret that separate figures are not available for the North-East.
§ Mr. PopplewellDo not these figures indicate how wrong the Government were in ending the operation of the Distribution of Industry Act and imposing the Local Employment Act? Will the hon. Gentleman bring all the pressure at his command to bear upon the Board of Trade and the Lord President of the Council 914 to do something more urgent to stop this migration away from the North-East?
§ Mr. WhitelawI would not accept what the hon. Member has just said about the Local Employment Act and the Distribution of Industry Act. The hon. Member knows very well both the national and local measures taken in the North-East which are designed to put this position right.
§ 41. Mr. Popplewellasked the Minister of Labour how many workpeople were employed in the North-East at the end of April, giving male and female figures, separately, for each of the last three years.
§ Mr. WhitelawThese figures are calculated for mid-year only. I will with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, a table showing figures for the last three years.
§ Mr. PopplewellBut will not these figures once more reveal how the North-East is not receiving its fair percentage of employment? Will the hon. Gentleman again see what more the Government can do to get new industries into the North-East or, which is probably more important, to provide work for existing industries?
§ Mr. WhitelawI certainly note what the hon. Member says. Considerable measures have been taken. The activities of my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council are certainly yielding their results. As for opportunities of work for existing industries, I would mention the placing of Admiralty shipbuilding orders worth £10 million, which I believe is of advantage. The hon. Member knows many of the other measures as well as I do. In all, they add up to a pretty powerful contribution.
§ Mr. PopplewellIs the hon. Gentleman aware that even though the North-East has been promised Admiralty and other contracts, the contracts now let there are in no way matching up to the promises given? Will he have another look at this?
§ Mr. WhitelawI am not aware that we are not matching up to promises given. If the hon. Member says that we are not, I will, of course, look at the matter.
| Following is the information: | ||
| NORTH EAST ENGLAND EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT | ||
| Year ending | Males | Females |
| Mid-1960 | 788,100 | 347,900 |
| Mid-1961 | 785,100 | 355,400 |
| Mid-1962 | 775,600 | 357,700 |