§ Q3. Mr. Blakerasked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the division of responsibility regarding regional employment policy between the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and the President of the Board of Trade; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.
§ Mr. BlakerIs the Prime Minister aware that the latest seasonally adjusted figures for wholly unemployed show that the rate of unemployment is rising faster in the North of England and Wales, both of which are development areas, than it is nationally? Does not this indicate that something is wrong?
§ The Prime MinisterOver the months from last August to April—and the same would be found if we took other dates for the starting point—three-quarters of the improvement in the seasonally adjusted figure for wholly unemployed has occurred in the development areas. There are little interchanges between some of these areas. At the moment, while the Northern Region and Scotland 1033 have not yet shown a very big improvement in the number of jobs, the prospects look slightly better in many respects than for Wales. The problem of colliery closures in Wales is very central, as in other areas, but the measures which we have taken should have a very big effect indeed on employment in all three areas.