§ 79. Mr. McMasterasked the President of the Board of Trade what the average cost to the Exchequer per head is estimated to be in respect of those employed in new industry commenced under the Local Employment Act in development districts in Scotland, Wales and the north-east coast, respectively.
§ Mr. ErrollThe average cost was £1,277 in Scotland, £854 in Wales and £595 in the North-East.
§ Mr. McMasterasked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been created in each of the past three years, and how many are in prospect, as a result of special measures which Her Majesty's Government has taken to reduce unemployment in development districts in Scotland, Wales and on the North-East coast, respectively.
§ Mr. ErrollThe following table sets out the number of jobs estimated to arise in projects assisted under that Act in each of the three full financial years for which the Local Employment Act has been in force. I cannot say how many of these jobs have already arisen.
12 months ended Scotland Wales N.E. England 31st March, 1961 … 12,400 5,700 2,800 31st March, 1962 … 13,100 2,800 3,400 31st March, 1963 … 7,800 700 8,000 Totals … 33,300 9,200 14,200
§ Mr. Montgomeryasked the President of the Board of Trade what further changes he will make in the list of development districts in the North-East of England.
§ Mr. ErrollYes. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hasindicated in his statement about the North-East of England, I am adding to the list of development districts the employment exchange areas of Durham, Birtley and Washington Station. In 145W view of the way the travel-to-work patterns have been developing, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has come to the conclusion that Birtley should now be regarded as part of a group with the existing development districts of Chester-le-Street and Houghton-le-Spring and Washington Station be regarded as part of the Sunderland group.
§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the President of the Board of Trade what further changes he will make in the list of development districts in Scotland.
§ Mr. ErrollYes. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has indicated in his statement about Central Scotland, I am adding to the list of development districts the Falkirk Group (which comprises the employment exchange areas of Bonnybridge, Falkirk and Grangemouth) and the employment exchange areas of Linlithgow and Bo'ness. In view of the way the travel-to-work patterns have been developing in those areas my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour has come to the conclusion that these areas should now be regarded as one for the purposes of calculating a realistic unemployment percentage.