HC Deb 10 April 1967 vol 744 cc715-7
12. Mr. Ridley

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the total number unemployed in the United Kingdom was in the six development area regions in February, 1963, and in February, 1967, respectively.

Mr. Fernyhough

Of the total numbers registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom at June, 1963, and February, 1967, 48.1 per cent. and 38.3 per cent., respectively, were within the five development areas and Northern Ireland. Information for February, 1963, is not available.

Mr. Ridley

I deliberately asked the Parliamentary Secretary the figure for February, 1963. Is he aware that at the height of the previous recession and at the height of this recession the position was almost identical? If he agrees with this, will he now publicly agree that the Prime Minister's claim that this dose of inflation has not hit the regions was so much eyewash?

Mr. Fernyhough

No, I do not agree with the hon. Member, because he is not comparing like with like. There were no development areas in 1963. There were development districts. If hon. Members opposite do not know the difference between a development area as they now obtain and development districts as they then obtained, I will be happy to show them the map and show how relatively ill informed they are.

Mr. R. Carr

Will not the hon. Gentleman answer the Question? Does he not know perfectly well that he could easily produce the statistics asked for in the Question by summing up the figures for each development district and so give them as a comparable figure? Would not that comparable figure fully justify the point made by my hon. Friend?

Mr. Fernyhough

If the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) had asked that Question, my Ministry would have gone to the trouble—[An HON. MEMBER: "Shocking."]—to have found the information. Hon. Members expect to have an Answer to the question they put down—

Mr. Carr

They do.

Mr. Fernyhough

—and that is the Question which I have answered.

Mr. Heffer rose—

Mr. Ridley

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Heffer rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That cuts out further supplementary questions.

Mr. Ridley rose—

Mr. Heffer

Thank you very much. I will do the same for you sometime.

Mr. Manuel

On a point of order. Arising from the announcement by the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) that he would raise the matter on the Adjournment, had you not already called my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker

I had not called the hon. Member's hon. Friend.

Mr. Manuel

Further to the point of order. I distinctly heard you call my hon. Friend, Mr. Speaker, before the hon. Member on the Opposition Front Bench rose to his feet. There is no doubt about it.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must be guided by the Chair.

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