HC Deb 26 February 1970 vol 796 cc1380-2
19. Mr. Fortescue

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the figure for registered unemployed in the North-West at the latest available date; and how this compares with the equivalent date in 1964.

Mr. Dell

The total numbers registered as unemployed in the North-Western region at February, 1970, and February, 1964, were 79,483 and 74,306 respectively. The figure for February, 1970, is provisional.

Mr. Fortescue

Does the right hon. Gentleman have statistics to show how much those unemployment figures are due to the deliberate policy of the Prime Minister in seeking a shake-out of industry, and how much they are due to strikes?

Mr. Dell

The point that the hon. Gentleman, who is a Member for the Merseyside area, should bear in mind is the considerable relative improvement in the position in the Merseyside arch that the figures show as a result of the Government's policy of assistance to development areas.

Mr. Heffer

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the figures both for 1964, which was during the time of the Conservative Government, and 1970 are far too high both for Merseyside and the North-West as a whole? Is not it time the Government did something positive and immediate about unemployment?

Mr. Dell

I agree that the figures are too high. A particular factor in the Merseyside development area is the figures in the construction industry. I can assure my hon. Friend that without the very vigorous programme of assistance to the development areas by the present Government the situation in the development areas as a result of the rundown of traditional industries would be far worse.

20. Mr. Fortescue

asked the Secretary of Stale for Employment and Productivity what was the total of those in employment in the North-Western Region at the latest date for which figures are available; and how this compares with October, 1964.

Mr. Dell

Employment estimates for the North-Western region for 1964 are available only for June. The estimated number of employees in employment in North-Western Region at June, 1964 was 2,978,000. The provisional estimate for March, 1969 was 2,876,000.

Mr. Fortescue

Do not those figures show that about 100,000 jobs have been lost in the north-western area in the past six years? Does not this add point to my suggestion and that of the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heller) that it is high time something urgent, definite and drastic was done about the situation?

Mr. Dell

Between June, 1964, and June, 1968, employment in the Merseyside development area slightly increased. There are many factors in the fall of employment in the North-Western Region, including demographic factors like the low birthrate in the early 1950s, the decline in various traditional industries and the fact that many more children are now staying at school longer. I do not believe that the figures are out of line with the level of employment to be expected in this country given the sort of stable population we have.

Mr. Heffer

Is it not clear that these figures reveal that since the end of the war there has been a consistent drift from Merseyside, and areas of that kind, of people seeking employment elsewhere? Would not the unemployment figures be inflated if that was not so and is it not clear that it is high time that the Government introduced not merely Bills but factories, publicly-owned, to bring work back to the areas where it is most needed?

Mr. Dell

As I have pointed out, despite the drift from the Merseyside area between June, 1964, and June, 1968, employment in the Merseyside development area slightly increased. My hon. Friend refers to the need for more public investment and publicly-owned factories in the area. I would remind him that the Government have taken steps to increase publicly-controlled employment in the Merseyside development area as in other development areas.