HC Deb 14 November 1968 vol 773 cc601-2
25. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now give a date for the publication of the Hunt Committee's report.

35. Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he proposes to publish the report of the Hunt Committee.

Mr. Shore

Publication will follow as soon as possible after I have received the report, which I now expect early in the new year.

Mr. Hooley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that unemployment in the Yorkshire and Humberside area has been running at or above the national average for the past 12 months, an unprecedented situation, and we are getting tired of waiting for this Committee's report as an alibi for no action?

Mr. Shore

I assure my hon. Friend that this is not an alibi for no action. There is available to the Government the I.D.C. policy and other measures to help deal with situations in areas where growth is unsatisfactory. We are pressing to have the report as quickly as possible.

Mr. Leadbitter

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, although we have waited anxiously for this report, there is a far more outstanding matter in our minds on, I think, both sides of the House? Will he discuss with the Leader of the House the need to have a debate on the report at an early date so that the whole complex of regional policies may be reviewed?

Mr. Shore

I am sure that the House would welcome an opportunity at some stage to discuss regional policy, and I shall pass my right hon. Friend's observation to the Leader of the House.

Mr. Alison

Is it not inhuman to tell people in the dole queue that they have to await a technical report which is yet to come? Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the number of people unemployed in Yorkshire is much higher than in many development areas, and will he bring forward the £10 million programme of special winter works to help Yorkshire, and give it the benefit of the doubt?

Mr. Shore

The Government's various policies, including their public expenditure programmes which are of considerable scale and which hon. Members opposite are generally seeking to reduce, will be helping the Yorkshire and Humberside area as they are helping other areas.