§ Mr. Symondsasked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) in view of the fact that the percentages of unemployment in Millom and Cleator Moor are 11.5 and 14.4 per cent., respectively, what efforts are being made to bring employment to these areas; and with what success;
(2) what action has been taken to reduce the 14.5 per cent. unemployed in Cleator Moor and the 11 per cent. unemployed in Millom, in view of the fact that figures elsewhere have fallen.
§ Mr. Frederick LeeThe February level of unemployment at Millom of 11.5 per cent. is still high, but it was 16.2 per cent. last October, following the closure of the ironworks. As my hon. Friend knows, Millom is designated as a Special Development Area, and the Board of Trade encourages suitable firms to take advantage of the additional incentives available there. In her reply of 27th February to my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade has referred to the good prospects for securing some new projects before long.
The current level of unemployment for the Whitehaven travel to work area, in which Cleator Moor is included, is 7.6 per cent. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has explained, the policy of advance factory building in Special Development Areas has already had some success in attracting new projects to Cleator Moor.—[Vol. 778, c. 345–6.]