§ 2. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will pay an official visit to factories in the city of Leicester.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Bob Cryer)I shall be pleased to visit factories in the city of Leicester whenever my existing commitments make it possible for me to do so.
§ Mr. JannerIs my hon. Friend aware that he will be made very welcome by the city of Leicester, which is very anxious to attract new industry to it? It has marvellous facilities, including cheap 2 office accommodation, which are near to the motorway and it is coping very well with its unemployment problems. Will my hon. Friend bear that in mind when he is asked where industry might go when it is to be moved or situated?
§ Mr. CryerWe shall always bear in mind my hon. and learned Friend's representations, which are many and varied. He is right in saying that Leicester's unemployment position is better than the national average. In October its percentage unemployment was 5.2 per cent. as opposed to a national average of 5.9 per cent., and we are pleased about that. We accept that the level of unemployment nationally is too high, but there are bright spots and I am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for drawing attention to one of them.