HC Deb 12 April 1965 vol 710 c925
2. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Labour how many men were unemployed in the Okehampton area of Devon at the end of January, 1965.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Richard Marsh)

Ninety at 8th February, the date of the count of unemployed nearest to the end of January.

Mr. Mills

Will the Minister repeat that? I never heard a word.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Let there be less noise, because we want to be heard the first time.

Mr. Marsh

Ninety at 8th February, the date of the count of unemployed nearest to the end of January.

Mr. Mills

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that due to the direct action of the Railways Board there will be well over another 100 unemployed in the very near future because of the closure of Meldon quarry? Will he state what redundancy payments these men will have and what his Ministry proposes to do to help to re-employ them?

Mr. Marsh

The hon. Member is unnecessarily pessimistic about this. About 130 workers will be affected directly, and some may be offered re-employment by the new owners of the quarry. The Railways Board is investigating the possibility of new work for these men. The staff of the employment exchange are also doing what they can.