§ 5. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Labour whether he will draw to the attention of the Lichfield and Tamworth Local Employment Committee the need to investigate the shortage of work paid at rates competitive with Birmingham in the area, resulting in the continued commuting of workers to Birmingham; and if he will request the committee in question to make this matter the subject of a special report.
§ Mr. MarshThe desirability of doing this is very much a matter for the Committee itself. I gave an undertaking last week that the suggestion would be brought to the Committee's notice.
§ Mr. SnowI am obliged to my hon. Friend. Is he aware that the legacy of high unemployment in other parts of the country left by the previous Government has resulted in lack of industry coming into this overspill area and that there is some evidence of personal stress due to excessive travelling time and pecuniary loss?
§ Mr. MarshAs my hon. Friend will appreciate, the general question of the distribution of industry is one for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. As to the effects of the last Administration, it would take too long to deal with all of them.
§ 6. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange for separate committees to sit in respect of the Tamworth and Lichfield Local Employment Committee in view of the changed working population situation since the original single committee was instituted.
§ Mr. MarshNo, Sir; but my right hon. Friend will reconsider the balance of representation between the two areas.
§ Mr. SnowIs my hon. Friend aware that since the original committee was formed the industrial development in each of these towns has become quite important and there seems to be some difference of interest between the towns which might justify separate committees?
§ Mr. MarshAlthough employment has been growing faster in Lichfield than in Tamworth, the two towns are very closely linked and they are not big enough to justify separate committees.