§ 85. Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the announcement by the chairman of the North West Regional Board for Industry that, with 30,000 unemployed on Merseyside, the policy of directing work to the worker was failing; and, in view of the large number also unemployed in South Wales, what new steps are proposed to remedy this evil.
§ Mr. BelcherI do not accept the statement attributed to the chairman of the North West Regional Board for Industry as quoted in the first part of the Question. Unemployment in the Development Areas has been reduced from 171,000 in June, 1946, to 104,000 in October, 1947, and on Merseyside from 28,500 to 23,000 in the same period. Unemployment in South Wales has been reduced from 59,000 in June, 1946, to 32,000 in October, 1947. Means of further reducing unemployment both in the Development Areas and in other districts are being constantly considered.