§ 4. Mr. Woofasked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures of insured male workers who have migrated from Blaydon and the Chopwell sub-office area of Consett employment exchange to other parts of the country in the last five years.
§ Mr. WhitelawI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. WoofIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is widespread migration from the area for which he says that figures are not available? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the numbers who have already migrated are a portent of much more migration and are a clear indication of the poor employment prospects of the area? Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that there is no time to be lost if we are to make good our own unemployment figures in relation to the existing overall employment in the South? Will the hon. Gentleman see to it that faster progress is made through the implied promises of the Government to modernise the 5 north-east region and to diversify the economy to stop the drift in population?
§ Mr. WhitelawOne certainly appreciates that employment in this area has been declining, particularly in the coal mining industry. I think the hon. Member also appreciates that both these areas are development districts and have the full facilities of the Local Employment Acts and the benefit of the "free depreciation" which is available to them. I certainly hope, as he does, that this will lead to the provision of more jobs in these areas.