HC Deb 29 July 1971 vol 822 cc757-8
4. Dr. Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he is taking to reduce the number of unemployed persons in the area of the Thorne Employment Exchange.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. David Howell)

The Government's various measures to stimulate output, in particular the tax reductions and the large infrastructure programme announced by my right hon. Friends, will have a generally beneficial effect on the employment situation, which Thorne can be expected to share.

Dr. Marshall

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware that new employment opportunities at Thorne may be discouraged so long as there is the faintest likelihood that Thorne colliery will reopen and absorb manpower? Will he therefore press the Chairman of the National Coal Board for an early decision one way or another about the future of Thorne colliery?

Mr. Howell

We are aware of the situation in Thorne and I will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman said.

Mr. Duffy

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a stimulus to consumer expenditure of the kind announced last week, however welcome it may be in some other parts of the country, will not do much, if anything, to relieve the structural unemployment in my hon. Friend's constituency and in other constituencies in South Yorkshire?

Mr. Howell

There is a special problem with coal mining. It was not just a stimulus to consumer expenditure which was announced last week. My right hon. Friend also announced free depreciation for plant and machinery in service industries in development areas, an increased rate of first-year allowances on all capital expenditure, and many other measures.

Mr. Harold Walker

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Doncaster travel-to-work area, of which Thorne is a part, now has nearly 6,000 unemployed, a level of almost 6 per cent.? Is he aware that his right hon. Friend at the Department of Trade and Industry told me the other day that only 1,954 jobs would be in prospect in the area over the next few years? Is it not clear that the Government should have a crash programme to relieve the problems of South Yorkshire generally where unemployment is higher than the average for the development areas?

Mr. Howell

The rate for the Don-caster travel-to-work area is 5.4 per cent., not quite 6 per cent., but still very high, as I concede.

Mr. Harold Walker

It is 650 up since that figure was taken.

Mr. Howell

The Government believe that the wide range of measures which have been taken will have a major effect on job opportunities.