HC Deb 14 June 1965 vol 714 cc1-3
2. Mr. Rhodes

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed in the North-East Region at the latest available date; and how many were unemployed one year ago.

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

28,252 on 10th May compared with 39,501 on 11th May, 1964.

Mr. Rhodes

Now that large-scale unemployment is rapidly declining in the area, will my hon. Friend give consideration to the reverse side of this problem, namely, the dire shortage of skilled labour? Is he aware, for example, that Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson is having to turn down orders on the Tyne because it cannot fulfil its completion dates? Will he give attention to this problem and bring both sides of industry together, particularly on the question of industrial training and the length of apprenticeships?

Mr. Marsh

Yes, I agree entirely with my hon. Friend about the size of this reduction. In fact, we have achieved a reduction of 28.4 per cent. in the last year, which is a pretty good figure. On my hon. Friend's second point of providing increased training facilities in the North-East, the three Government training centres at Billingham, Felling and Tursdale are providing over 600 training places in a wide range of trades, many in the engineering and building industries. My right hon. Friend is also considering a further expansion of Government training centres.

Mr. R. W. Elliott

Will the Parliamentary Secretary take seriously his hon. Friend's point about lack of skill in the developing North-East? Does he realise that we welcome the new training centres in the North-East and the great steps forward taken in the trade union attitude to retraining? Whatever reasons there may have been for restrictive practices in the past, will the Minister use every effort to overcome this stumbling block?

Mr. Marsh

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. There has been a real change in the trade union attitude to adult retraining in the last two years, and this is something which we want to improve still further. The short answer is that it is essential for this country and for trade unionists themselves that men should be willing to accept adult retraining not only in the national interest but in their own individual interest as well.