HC Deb 31 January 1978 vol 943 cc228-9
7. Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for the Birmingham travel-to-work area.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Golding)

At 12th January, 42,691 people were registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area.

Mr. Rooker

Does my hon. Friend share my concern that there will be a possible increase of another 600 if the Cadbury-Typhoo Tea factory is closed, especially in view of its inner city location? It would be contrary to Government policy to move it out, especially as it provides much-needed non-engineering jobs in Birmingham.

Mr. Golding

I share my hon. Friend's concern about any loss of jobs from the inner area of Birmingham. I am not certain that the firm has taken any final decision on the matter. I understand that the city council is in touch with the firm to try to find alternative sites in the city.

Mr. Eyre

Does the Minister realise that Government policy on assisted areas offers heavy inducements for the movement of work from the inner area of Birmingham to the Cheshire area? Does he realise that the Government's policy on assisted areas is therefore greatly in conflict with the interests of dealing with areas of great unemployment in the inner areas, such as that in which this factory is sited? Therefore, will he urgently review that conflict?

Mr. Golding

It was the last Tory Government who designated South Cheshire as an intermediate area, causing antagonism in my constituency and throughout thet West Midlands. Between June 1976 and 1977, employment in manufacturing in the West Midlands increased by 20,000, but the last Conservative Administration created a problem by doing what it did.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

Does my hon. Friend accept that the unemployment problems of Birmingham are reflected in areas such as Cannock, which has much greater unemployment than Birmingham? Does he also accept that in some of the pockets of high unemployment on the borders of conurbations there is an urgent need for special help?

Mr. Golding

I think that the centre of Birmingham has severe employment problems, but I certainly recognise the problems that exist in Cannock and in Rugeley in Staffordshire, and my Department has to deal with both.

Mr. MacKay

Does not the Minister agree that the Government's disastrous regional policy is rapidly making the West Midlands into an economic desert? Does he also agree that, if we are not very careful, more than the Typhoo Tea jobs will be lost and there will be mass unemployment for the first time for many years in the West Midlands?

Mr. Golding

The assistance that this Government have given to the motor car, machine tool and foundry industries, which was opposed by Conservative Members, has stopped the West Midlands from becoming an industrial desert and has created 20,000 additional jobs.