§ 2.42 p.m.
§ LORD JACQUESMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, arising out of the Statement on Defence Estimates, they will adopt a more liberal policy regarding industrial development certificates and office development permits for the towns with Royal Dockyards, so as to allow adequate time for the planning and building of alternative places of employment; and whether they will bear in mind that most other industries employ a lower proportion of male labour so that considerable development may be necessary to absorb the male labour that would otherwise have gone to these dockyards.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, R.A.F. (LORD WINTERBOTTOM)My Lords: the reduction in the labour force in the dockyards at Chatham, Portsmouth and Devonport will take place over several years and will largely be achieved by natural wastage. The industrial development certificate and the office development permit controls are administered flexibly and full 1139 account is taken of local employment needs.
§ LORD JACQUESMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. May I ask whether he is aware that in the Portsmouth area the percentage of wholly unemployed has for many years been well above the national average, and that unless action is taken it is likely to be something like 5 per cent. in the winter months?
§ LORD WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are aware that Portsmouth's average of wholly unemployed is some 0.8 per cent. above the national average but as my noble friend will know, because of his relationship with that part of the world, ambitious plans exist for the development of office accommodation in Portsmouth, and the Board of Trade are giving these plans urgent consideration.
§ LORD JACQUESMy Lords. I thank the noble Lord.