§ 12. Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies were reported in his Department in the last three months in (a) Merseyside and (b) Kirkby.
§ Mr. GoldingIn the three months to 28th February 1978, 126 proposed redundancies were notified on Merseyside under Section 100 of the Employment Protection Act covering 10,477 employees; six of the notifications were in Kirkby, covering 1,534 employees. We expect that many of the notifications will be withdrawn.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkDoes my hon. Friend accept that the redundancies that have been announced in Kirkby and on Merseyside will have a terrible effect on the job opportunities in the area and that these are precisely die sort of jobs that we cannot afford to lose on Merseyside? Can he give an assurance that the Government will take all possible steps to prevent these redundancies occurring and go further and accept that, if we are adequately to deal with the problems of areas such as Merseyside, a totally new initiative on regional policy is called for?
§ Mr. GoldingGreat attention must be paid by the Government to Merseyside, because there is a need to recreate confidence there and there is also an important job to do in creating confidence in Merseyside among those outside Merseyside.
§ Mr. HefferDoes my hon. Friend agree that it is essential that there should be a co-ordination of various Government Departments in relation to Merseyside? Can he indicate whether the discussions that I and my hon. Friends from Merseyside have had with the Secretary of State for Industry are bearing fruit in relation to that co-ordination? Can we have positive proposals to deal with the serious situation that has developed in the last month or so?
§ Mr. GoldingThere is very close consultation, particularly on the Liverpool partnership committee, and I can certainly give my hon. Friend the assurance that Departments will combine to deal with the current dreadful problem on Merseyside.