HC Deb 20 May 1980 vol 985 cc236-8
9. Mr. Trippier

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce a special scheme of retraining for textile and footwear workers who have recently lost their jobs.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am aware of the problems facing redundant textile and footwear workers, and training facilities from which they may benefit are currently available under the training opportunities scheme. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that these facilities are expected to be adequate to meet the retraining needs of these workers. However, if my hon. Friend has evidence of particular training needs which may arise that cannot be met from existing provision, I shall be glad to consider the matter further.

Mr. Trippier

I recognise that my hon. Friend is endeavouring to be helpful. Does he accept that it is extremely difficult for workers in these two industries to transfer to other employment at the age of, say, 50 or between 50 and retirement age? In view of the special pressures on these two industries, would it not be possible for a special scheme to be devised to help them?

Mr. Lester

The problem mentioned by my hon. Friend applies to all workers in their fifties. I am assured that many of the courses available are designed to take that into account. As I have already said, if my hon. Friend has any evidence of special need, I am prepared to consider it.

Mr. Woolmer

Is the Minister aware that the textile and clothing industry is likely to lose 70,000 workers in the next 12 months? In West Yorkshire alone 4,000 or 5,000 workers in the textile industry will probably lose their jobs. Will the Minister assure us that he will look again at the question of selective assistance to industrial areas which are losing jobs in the textile industry and that he will bring industry as well as training to those areas and, therefore, hope to the workers?

Mr. Lester

The Department of Industry, to which this question is really addressed, has already agreed, over the three-year wind-down of the regional areas, to look carefully before any alterations take place and to take into account changes that have occurred since. I am sure that will be taken into account.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Will my hon. Friend give further consideration to the valid point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale (Mr. Trippier)? Is he aware that thousands of people are losing their jobs each month in the textile industry and that the existing retraining schemes are totally inadequate to provide sufficient places for the numbers being made unemployed? Will he try to persuade his right hon. and hon. Friends in the Department of Trade to take action to ensure that the textile industry survives rather than have to provide costly retraining schemes for those who are made redundant?

Mr. Lester

None of us can be unaware of the problems of the textile industry, not least because of the effective representations of my hon. Friend. As I have already suggested, I am informed that training places exist for those who seek them. If there is any evidence that that is not the case, naturally we shall look into it.

Mr. Arthur Davidson

Retraining facilities are necessary, but is the Minister aware that the real danger is that there will be no firms to receive people, even if they are retrained? Is he further aware that it is not only the textile industry that is suffering badly, but light engineering, building and every industry throughout Lancashire?

Mr. Lester

Having travelled the area quite frequently, I cannot accept that the situation is as serious as the hon. and learned Gentleman suggested. I understand that the textile industry is already the most protected industry in the country, even though it is experiencing these severe problems. We are all concerned about it. But it is a question of balancing the interests of the home market against the interests of the export market, in which the textile industry does very well.

Mr. McNally

Is the Minister aware that, despite the helpful answers that he gives to those lion. Members in Tory marginals, the textile industry is being destroyed by the Departments of Trade and Industry? Will he now acknowledge that his Department is simply acquiescing in the destruction of a great industry?

Mr. Lester

The textile industry is being destroyed by customers in this country who are apparently going to the shops and not buying British textiles.