§ Q5. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Prime Minister what plans he has to make an official visit to Woolwich.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so, Sir.
§ Mr. CartwrightIs my right hon. Friend aware that if he did make such a visit, he would find considerable concern about the continuing rundown of manufacturing industry upon which that part of South-East London has traditionally depended? 623 Does not the experience of my own borough, which has lost 20,000 manufacturing jobs in less than 10 years, show the real employment problems even within Greater London?
§ The Prime MinisterThe pattern of employment in London has changed considerably and there has been a shift away from manufacturing over a period of years. There are many reasons for this. The Greater London Development Plan provided guidelines within which action could be taken by local authorities. Employment in manufacturing industry in Great Britain has been declining over the past 15 years and recent Government proposals are designed to reverse that trend and to strengthen our industrial manufacturing base.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyMay I lend support to the remarks of the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) and ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the concern in Greenwich and Woolwich about the proposed transfer of defence jobs, which are as important as manufacturing jobs, away from the borough?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course I understand this point. The hon. Member knows that I heard a great deal about his constituency and its problems from his predecessor. The hon. Gentleman was very generous about that on the day he took his seat. If he writes to me, I will look into the matter, but he ought to be addressing this question to the Secretary of State for Defence.