HC Deb 25 March 1968 vol 761 cc897-8
24. Mr. Urwin

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the number of people engaged in the manufacture of telecommunications equipment; how many are employed in the development areas; and what is the proportion in the Northern Region.

Mr. Gunter

The industry generally recognised to be most concerned with the manufacture of telecommunications equipment is "Telegraph and Telephone Apparatus" (Minimum List Heading 363 of the Standard Industrial Classification).

It is estimated that at mid-1967 there were 95,300 employees in employment in this industry in Great Britain as a whole, and that of these 13,400–14 per cent.—were in the Northern Region.

Estimates for 1967 for the Development Areas are not yet available. In 1966 all Development Areas had 35 per cent. and Northern Region 14 per cent. of the total numbers in Great Britain.

Mr. Urwin

While I am deeply grateful to my right hon. Friend for that information, may I ask if he will accept that we on this side of the House believe that the number employed in this industry in the Northern Region is far too low, especially when one has the situation of a heavy decline in basic industries? Would he agree that 2.6 per cent. unemployment somewhere else in the country, however unacceptable, is not by any means comparable with almost 10 per cent. amongst men, in Sunderland?

Mr. Gunter

I certainly take the latter point, but I should have thought that 14 per cent. in the Northern Region is not really a very bad percentage.