HC Deb 05 April 1973 vol 854 cc609-11
Q6. Mr. Parry

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Merseyside.

The Prime Minister

I have at present no plans to make a further visit to Merseyside.

Mr. Parry

When the Prime Minister recently attended a meeting on the opening of the Merseyside Development Office in London he spoke of his love and great affection for Merseyside. Will not he reconsider his decision not to visit Merseyside and show how deep his affection really is? He would then see the disastrous effect on Merseyside of the policies of his Government.

The Prime Minister

I have already been to Merseyside a number of times since I became Prime Minister. I cannot agree with the last part of the hon. Gentleman's remarks. We all regret the fact that although unemployment has decreased somewhat on Merseyside it has not responded in the same way as it has in the rest of the country. We regard this as a matter for serious concern.

Mr. Tilney

If and when the Prime Minister comes to Merseyside, will he bear in mind that there are first-class white-collar workers there who are as good as any in Britain, and much office accommodation which is available at one-tenth of the cost of similar accommodation in London?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. As the House knows, the Government are now considering the Hardman Report about dispersal of the policy-making aspects of the Civil Service, which are at present based in London. But since 1963, 1,650 Civil Service posts have been established in Merseyside, as a result of dispersal and new offices, and, in addition, 3,000 staff are employed in the Post Office Giro at Bootle. So a considerable number of posts have already moved to Merseyside.

Mr. Heffer

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are 2,000 unemployed youths in Liverpool alone? Is he further aware that the trade unions in the docks have called for 500 more permanent workers? The employers have already called for this, but at present there is no response from the Government. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is causing the port of Liverpool to lose trade to a serious extent?

The Prime Minister

I think that the hon. Gentleman knows that the position in the docks has been affected by the scheme for redundancy, to which the Government agreed, and a number of older workers and the sick have not taken advantage of that. As a consequence, consideration has to be given to the permanent strength of the dock force.