§ Mr. Chetwyndasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state as percentages the unemployment in development districts in the North-east as against the total unemployment in all development districts, the total amount of factory space provided, the number of estimated jobs and the amount of loans and grants.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe answers to the various parts of the hon. Member's Questions are as follows:—
The percentages wholly unemployed in Development Districts in Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire at mid-October, 1961 were:—
Per cent. Bishop Auckland Group 3.1 Haltwhistle 2.2 Hartlepools Group 4.1 Haswell 3.7 Horden 3.2 Houghton-le-Spring 3.8 Prudhoe 3.8 Scarborough 4.0 Seaham Harbour 3.1 Sunderland Group 4.1 Tyneside S.E. Group 4.5 Whitby 4.6 The percentage wholly unemployed in all Development Districts in England, Scotland and Wales at the same date was 3.7 per cent.
The total amount of space in Government factories and extensions in the same area for which approval has been given under the Local Employment Act during the period 1st April, 1960, to 9th November, 1961, is 701,796 sq. ft.
For the same area, the total number of new industrial jobs estimated to be in prospect is approximately 11,000 and the total amount offered in financial assistance under Section 3 and 4 of the Local Employment Act during the period mentioned is £580,437.