§ Mr. Ian StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Eccles constituency, the effects on Eccles of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158062]
§ Mr. CabornThis Department does not maintain statistical information at constituency level.
My hon. Friend's constituents, like many others throughout Greater Manchester, have benefited from my Department's Employment Rights policies which include national minimum wage, working time directive, part time working regulations and improved maternity leave.
In addition, Eccles is eligible for Enterprise Grant Scheme funding.
In the North West region, my Department's policies have contributed to growth in employment by 107,000 and a fall in unemployment by 63,000; reductions in youth unemployment by 75 per cent. and long term unemployment by 54 per cent.