HC Deb 11 November 1966 vol 735 cc387-8W
Mr. Biffen

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what is the estimated number of redundancies that have arisen since 20th July;

(2) if he will establish machinery to determine how many workers declared redundant since 20th July have been subsequently employed in companies con- tributing to the total of United Kingdom exports;

(3) by what method he ascertains that workers declared redundant since 20th July have been subsequently employed by companies needing labour to execute export orders;

(4) what is the estimated number of workers declared redundant since 20th July that have been subsequently employed in the service industries.

Mr. Gunter

Redundant workers are under no obligation to register with my Department and no estimate of the total number is possible. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to my statement to the House on 24th October. As I then explained detailed information of the sort requested by the hon. Member is not obtainable; my department draws the attention of suitable registrants to vacancies at firms whose activities are of special economic importance; the broad trend of labour re-deployment following on the Government's economic measures of 20th July can be judged from the redundancies of special sgnificance which we are closely watching, but it is at this stage too early to draw firm conclusions.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Labour what assistance his Department has given to Tyne Tees Television, with a view to giving information about jobs for redundant workers.

Mr. Gunter

At the request of Tyne Tees Television my Department has assisted the company in providing information about jobs available in the Northern Region to enable it to provide a new weekly five minutes programme of help to redundant workers.