HC Deb 21 April 1993 vol 223 cc312-3
9. Mrs. Mahon

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will next visit West Yorkshire to discuss job losses in manufacturing.

The Minister for Industry (Mr. Tim Sainsbury)

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and other Ministers in my Department make frequent visits to Yorkshire. My right hon. Friend next plans to visit Leeds in mid-May to attend the Association of British Chambers of Commerce annual conference dinner.

Mrs. Mahon

Is the Minister aware that in Yorkshire and Humberside between 1989 and 1992, 35,000 jobs were lost in manufacturing? Will he do something for the thousands of unemployed in Halifax by unequivocally supporting Calderdale council's bid for objective 2 status and by granting Calderdale assisted area status? He must be aware that Calderdale is like the hole in the middle of the doughnut, surrounded by areas that receive help, but receiving nothing.

Mr. Sainsbury

We all regret—[Interruption.] We are all sorry to see job losses, but I hope that the hon. Lady will appreciate that inevitably improvements in productivity are sometimes accompanied by job losses. I cannot anticipate for her the outcome of the review of the assisted area map. I hope that she recognises that we have only just received from the European Community its proposals for the rules that will apply to objective 2 status. They are being considered and are not likely to be agreed by the Council of Ministers until later in the summer.

Mr. Batiste

What does my right hon. Friend advise those who, like the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon), bemoan job losses in West Yorkshire, but advocate policies such as the social chapter, which would cost so many jobs by making British industry uncompetitive on the world markets?

Mr. Sainbsury

I would advise, as I am sure that my hon. Friend would, that they consult industry. If they did, they would find that industry is aware that if it is to succeed, create jobs, win export orders and win a larger share of the home market, the key is productivity. That is what they seek and that is what the Government are helping them to achieve.