§ 11. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Industry what consideration he is now giving to providing more jobs in the South Yorkshire area, especially for those districts where unemployment is well above the national average; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is not the role of the Government to provide jobs, but rather to create the conditions in which viable industry and commerce can do so. The Government are currently reviewing the assistance at present available to industry in South Yorkshire and elsewhere.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that that is a most deplorable answer, the sort that we shall always expect from a Tory Government? Has he seen the report on the front page of the Yorkshire Post today of a recent survey which shows that 1,226 big firms, when asked what they would be doing about providing jobs after the Budget, said that they had decided not to provide jobs? What jobs will come out of the Budget that will benefit South Yorkshire? Does the hon. Gentleman intend to carry on as the previous Tory Government did, and not to provide jobs at all but to allow people to sink into unemployment?
§ Mr. MitchellComing from an hon. Gentleman who supported the previous Government, under whom unemployment nearly trebled, that comment seems to take the biscuit for audacity. I assure the hon. Gentleman that every Conservative Government since the war have ended up with unemployment figures lower than they were when they came into office, and the policies we are now pursuing are likely to lead to the same end.
§ Dr. Edmund MarshallWill the Minister do something practical and refer to the NEB for active consideration the availability of good sites in the Doncaster area of South Yorkshire for the establishment of the microchip development proposed by Inmos Limited?
§ Mr. MitchellNo decision has been taken yet on that matter. The hon. Gentleman's comment will be borne in mind.