§ 5. Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what new jobs have been created and existing jobs saved in Norfolk to date as a direct result of the Government's specific measures over the past six months to alleviate unemployment.
§ Mr. John FraserUp to the end of March, 35 jobs have been created in Norfolk as a result of the Manpower Services Commission's job creation programme. Under the schemes administered directly 1127 by my Department, 465 jobs in the area have been saved under the temporary employment subsidy scheme and 143 school leavers assisted under the recruitment subsidy scheme.
§ Mr. MacGregorWill the Minister take into account the fact that, as these figures show, the Government's measures do not really help to solve the employment problems of towns and villages in scattered country areas where small businesses are facing hard times and where there is often no alternative employment, especially for men? Is he also aware that there is great concern in the building industry in Norfolk that there will be much higher unemployment in a few months' time because of the lack of contracts in the pipeline, especially for industrial and commercial building? Will the Minister therefore consider the possibility of urging a redefinition of intermediate and development areas which may help to solve these problems?
§ Mr. FraserI recognise that there are problems of employment in Norfolk, particularly in the rural areas. The Development Commission has a remit to help the small areas affected by depopulation and the other problems that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. I ought to remind him that the unemployment rate in Norfolk at present is 5.8 per cent., which is only a little above the national average. I could not in any way suggest that resources should be diverted from areas which have much greater problems to an area whose unemployment rate is only slightly above national average.