§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will establish a Government training centre in the Doncaster travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. BryanThere are no plans at present for a new Government training centre in Doncaster. The area is already well served by the Sheffield centre, where training capacity will be increased by the provision of a new training annexe. The training needs of the area will however be kept under review.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified at Doncaster arising from British Rail's proposed administrative restructuring; when he expects these to become effective; and what consultations he had with British Rail about these proposals in view of the unemployment in the town.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified arising from the proposal by the Ford Motor Company to close their Doncaster factory; when these will become effective; and what representations he has made to the company in view of the unemployment level in the town.
§ Mr. BryanI understand that discussions are taking place between the company and the workpeople's representatives, and in the meantime no firm information is available on numbers likely to become redundant or on timing. My right hon. Friend has made no representations to the company in this matter.
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§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the redundancies that have been announced in Doncaster since 18th June 1970.
§ Mr. BryanInformation supplied by individual employers is often provided in confidence and I should not feel justified in publishing it. However, our records show that redundancies involving about 2,250 workpeople were recorded as due to occur in the Doncaster travel-to-work area in the period from 18th June, 1970, to 14th March, 1972.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present level of male unemployment in the Doncaster travel-to-work area; and how many pending redundancies have been notified to him.
§ Mr. BryanAt 14th February, 1972, 7,470 males were registered as unemployed in the Doncaster travel-to-work area and the rate of male unemployment based on this figure was 11 per cent. Excluding 1,783 male workers who were temporarily stopped, the rate was 8.4 per cent.
Redundancies involving some 260 workpeople are known to be pending in the Doncaster travel-to-work area.