HC Deb 11 December 1990 vol 182 c809
13. Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to introduce to aid employment prospects in the footwear industry.

Mr. Jackson

It is vital that industry should adapt to changing circumstances. The Department has given financial support to various training initiatives aimed at helping the footwear industry.

Mr. Vaz

Is the Minister aware of the deep concern and anger at the Government's lacklustre approach to the footwear industry? Does he realise that 68,000 people were employed in that industry in 1979, but that by 1990 the figure had dropped to 45,000, a total of 900 jobs having been lost in the past year? As a matter of urgency, will he convene a meeting with representatives of employers and workers to fashion a common approach to the industry —before it is completely decimated? For the record, will he, also confirm that he is wearing shoes which were manufactured in Britain?

Mr. Jackson

I understand the hon. Gentleman's concern about the footwear industry, especially in Leicester. I am not aware where my shoes came from, but I will have a look to check. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman believes that he is doing any service to the industry that he seeks to represent by describing it in such poor terms. It might be relevant to point out that last year the value of footwear exports increased by 9 per cent. The hon. Gentleman must not narrow his focus. If he is interested in jobs, he ought to consider the wider situation in the east midlands, where the number of people in employment rose by 19 per cent. between 1983 and June 1990.

Mr. Tredinnick

Does my hon. Friend agree that there are new marketing opportunities for the British shoe industry in eastern Europe and that these must be developed? However, there is another side to the coin and there is considerable concern about the flood of cheap leather coming from eastern Europe. Will he guarantee to monitor the situation?

Mr. Jackson

Hon. Members on both sides of the House accept that Britain has to be part of a liberal international trading order, and we want to see an opening-up of trade with eastern Europe. However, if such trade is to open up and if we are to sell goods to those countries, we have to be prepared to buy goods from them. One of the goods that they are competitive at exporting is footwear. Of course we need to monitor the situation, but we must maintain an open market approach to eastern Europe.