HL Deb 02 March 1982 vol 427 cc1171-2

2.48 p.m.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, at the request of my noble friend Lord Molloy, and in his unavoidable absence, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in his name on the Order Paper. May I also draw your Lordships' attention to a rather regrettable misprint? In the first line of the Question, as printed on the Order Paper, the word "present" should be "prevent".

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what they intend to do to prevent the loss of light industry and the consequential rise in unemployment in West London; and whether they will make a statement.

The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Viscount Trenchard)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are obviously concerned about the rise in unemployment throughout the country, as a result of the worldwide recession and the necessary restructuring of the British economy to deal with our longstanding industrial decline. The economy of West London has, in fact, suffered less than many parts of the country, and as the recession passes West London should be strongly placed to capitalise on the upturn.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Viscount. Is he able to give to South-West London the same kind of assurance that he has given about West London?

Viscount Trenchard

My Lords, that is a separate question, which perhaps the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins, or the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, would be happy to table.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that, contrary to the purport of his Answer, the widespread unemployment in the United Kingdom is not mainly due to the world depression? It is self-induced, due to the follies and ignorance of this Government.

Viscount Trenchard

My Lords, that, too, is a moderately separate question. But, in fact, as I told the noble Lord before, since we lost well over half our market share between 1960 and 1975, his assertion is not correct.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, despite the assurance which the Minister has given, is it not the case that light industries are closing down in Acton, Ealing and Southall? Are the Government's measures to help small businesses having any effect upon that?

Viscount Trenchard

My Lords, the answer is: Yes, there are problems, for the reasons I gave in my Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins, but there are also start-ups. The many schemes operated by my right honourable friend's department, aimed at encouraging new technology and small businesses, are available in this area which is geographically well located, and start-ups and improvements are taking place.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that under the previous Government the problem was to get firms to go out of London, and under this one the problem is to get them to come in and start businesses? Is he aware that the difficulties, to which my noble friend on the Front Bench referred, are just as apparent in South-West London as they are in all other parts of London, under the control of the present Government?

Viscount Trenchard

My Lords, as I have already said, the reason for the current situation is, indeed, the recession. The period under the previous Administration—not the end of it—was one in which the growth of the free world had nearly doubled in the years that I have spoken of. We lost half our share and stood still. When that growth came to an end, recession was inevitable.

Viscount St. Davids

My Lords, would the noble Viscount agree—and as a citizen of Camden I must declare an interest—that one of the causes of small industries suffering in West London and in my N.W.1 area is the extreme height of the rates in those areas, which have been going up very fast and still appear to be going up fast? Would not something being done about the rates possibly do more to help small industries in all parts of London than anything else?

Viscount Trenchard

My Lords, the increase of rates, and of costs of public sector activity generally, is one of the pressures on small businesses. My right honourable friends at the various departments are, as the noble Viscount knows, taking all possible action that they can to prevent that pressure from continuing to increase.