Industrial Development Certificates

HC Deb 18 June 1964 vol 696 cc1465-6

16. Mr. Doig

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many industrial development certificates were issued during the year ended 31st March, 1964, for Scotland, London and south-east England, and the Midlands of England, respectively; and how many jobs they provided.

Mr. Heath

For Scotland, 177 industrial development certificates were issued with an estimated employment of over 14,000. For London and southeast England—consisting of the standard regions eastern, London and southeastern and southern—the comparable figures were 725 certificates to employ 20,470. For the Midlands—consisting of the Midland standard region and the north Midland Region, including Lincolnshire—429 certificates to employ just under 7,800.

Mr. Doig

Does not the Secretary of State consider that this is a scandalous figure, when we realise that in Scotland, and particularly in the Dundee area, there is a need for many more jobs, whereas in the other two areas there are already far too many jobs? Does he not agree that this is very bad planning by his Department?

Mr. Heath

I do not agree. If we look not only at the total but also at the proportions of these figures we see the real picture. The fact is that in the South-East there is 31.6 per cent. of the employment, and the proportion of potential new jobs is 24 per cent.; in Scotland there is 8.4 per cent. of the employment, and 16.7 per cent.—twice as much—of the new jobs. The other factor which must be considered is that the average number of jobs per industrial development certificate in the South-East is 28. This means that the schemes are all of a very small nature and not of a kind which can go to other parts of the country.

Mr. Ross

Having given us the employment percentages, will the right hon. Gentleman give us the unemployment percentages in each area?

Mr. Heath

With great respect to the hon. Member, to all those of us who are trying to increase employment in Scotland that does not help, nor is it relevant to these figures. What is relevant is the fact that over the whole of the South-East, where we have a large proportion of the population, even with the smallest expansions there is bound to be this sort of arrangement.