§ 33. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the number of persons registered as unemployed in the county of Durham at the last available date, and the number registered at employment exchanges in the Easington parliamentary constituency, respectively.
§ Mr. FernyhoughAt 9th September, 1968, the number registered as unemployed in the county of Durham was 34,700. In the area covered by the Peterlee, Haswell and Wingate Employment Exchanges, which approximates broadly to the Easington constituency, the number was 1,670.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs my hon. Friend aware that in parts of the county of Durham the unemployment rate among males is 8 per cent., or almost four times the national average? Does this not suggest that the Government's policy so far, although welcome, is inadequate? What further steps will be taken to arrest the rising trend of unemployment in this region?
§ Mr. FernyhoughMy right hon. Friend will know that the areas with high unemployment are those in which there have been colliery closures and that the Government have made there special development areas, where, as I have already said, special inducements are offered. I am glad that my right hon. Friend did not suggest that nothing was being done, because I have a list here of firms which have gone to Durham, all of whom are expanding. I hope that by this time next year the picture will be much brighter.