5. Mr. Geoffrey Wilsonasked the Minister of Labour the ratio of unemployed to vacancies notified in July, 1966, and February, 1967, respectively, in the south-west region.
§ Mr. FernyhoughIn the south-western region at July, 1966, and February, 1967, there were, respectively, 146.7 and 34.6 notified vacancies remaining unfilled for every hundred registered wholly unemployed.
§ Mr. FernyhoughOf course, I do not think that it is satisfactory.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyDoes my hon. Friend agree that one of the most important things to cure this chronic unemployment in the South-West is to increase assistance to the development areas? From the viewpoint of his Ministry, is there any reason technically or administratively why, under the new proposal for a regional employment premium, the premium should not be varied from one region to another within the development areas?
§ Mr. FernyhoughI would not like to commit myself on that, but I will see that my right hon. Friend's attention is drawn to my hon. Friend's comments.
§ Mr. RidleyWould not the hon. Gentleman agree that the regional premium would do little to help the South-West as there is so little manufacturing industry in that area? Does he realise that he must do something more drastic to solve this problem?
§ Mr. FernyhoughI should have thought that we are doing something. At least, the South-West is getting more factories than it had in any comparable period under the previous Administration.