§ 52. Mr. Rossasked the President of the Board of Trade how many new jobs have now been created in Scotland, and in England and Wales, respectively, as a direct result of the operation of the Local Employment Act, 1960; and how many jobs have been lost in Scotland in the three years since April, 1960.
§ Mr. D. PriceIt is estimated that projects for which assistance has been offered under the Act will give rise to 34,000 new jobs in Scotland and 56,60034W new jobs in England and Wales. I cannot say how many of these jobs have already arisen. Between mid-1960 and mid-1962 decreases in extractive and manufacturing industries were more than offset by increases in other industries. The overall increase of jobs in Scotland was more than 31,000.
§ 53. Mr. Millanasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to reduce the delays in dealing with applications for loans or grants to Board of Trade Advisory Committees under the terms of the Local Employment Act. 1960.
§ Mr. D. PriceThis is one of the matters on which a recommendation has been made in the Seventh Report of the Estimates Committee on the Administration of the Local Employment Act, 1960. The Board of Trade will be sending their observations to the Committee as soon as possible.
§ 54. Mr. Lawsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now allow the management corporations set up under the Local Employment Act, 1960, to exercise their initiative in attracting industry to their respective development districts.
§ Mr. D. PriceThis was one of the matters dealt with in the Seventh Report of the Estimates Committee on the Administration of the Local Employment Act, 1960. The Board of Trade are considering the recommendations made and will be sending the Committee their Observations as soon as possible.
§ 55. Mr. Willisasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Local Employment Act, 1960, has solved the problems of the development districts.
§ Mr. D. PriceThis Question bears on part of the conclusion of the Seventh Report of the Estimates Committee. The Board of Trade will send their comment to the Estimates Committee and I cannot anticipate that comment.
§ 59. Mr. Gourlayasked the President of the Board of Trade why he expects expenditure under the terms of the Local Employment Act, 1960, to fall to £10 or £15 million in the near future, as shown in evidence published with the Seventh Report of the Estimates Committee.
35W
§ Mr. D. PriceThis is one of the matters dealt with in the Conclusions of the Seventh Report of the Estimates Committee on the Administration of the Local Employment Act, 1960. The Board of Trade will be sending their observations to the Committee as soon as possible.