HC Deb 28 January 1971 vol 810 cc791-2
9. Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the comparative figures for the number of persons employed in the brick industry in the employment areas covered by the Faversham constituency in October, 1964, and June, 1970.

Mr. Dudley Smith

The figures for June, 1970, should be available by the middle of the year. Until then, I cannot add to the reply given to a similar Question on 16th July, 1970, when I said that the number of those in employment in the Faversham, Sittingbourne and Sheerness Employment Exchange Areas in bricks, fireclay and refractory goods industries fell from about 500 at mid-1964 to about 200 at mid-1969.

Mr. Moate

Will my hon. Friend accept that there was a continuing decline of this important local industry during the last year of the Labour Government and that this represents a very serious loss to an area which is suffering from higher than average unemployment? Is he aware that there is special need in certain areas of the South-East for the encouragement of new industries and a more generous granting of industrial development certificates?

Mr. Smith

I accept that there has been a decline. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the latter part of his supplementary question is not for me. But I am informed that there are some signs of improvement in the brick industry generally, and perhaps the Faversham area will benefit from that.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

Does not my hon. Friend agree that, were we able to enter the Common Market, this area of the country would do very well and new industry would come to it?

Mr. Smith

I should be getting into deep water if I started debating the Common Market on a question of this sort.