§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in the light of the fact that the London Borough of Newham is a stress area with a large immigrant population, severe housing shortage, shortage of schools, teachers, hospital facilities, etc., and heavy unemployment, if he will take action to obtain employment for these workers in the interests of race relations;
(2) in view of the fact that in the London Borough of Newham the immigrant population has risen from 28,000 in 1971 to between 42,000 to 46,000 to date and that this is causing stresses and strains 245W with regard to employment, what action he has taken, or intends taking, to resolve these problems.
§ Mr. GoldingI am aware that the London Borough of Newham suffers from many stresses, including high unemployment, and that these disadvantages are shared by the ethnic minorities. The special employment measures introduced by my Department have so far helped nearly 650 people in Newham, and the introduction this year of the new youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme will provide further help to those affected by unemployment, including members of ethnic minorities.
In addition, part of Newham falls within the Docklands Partnership area. The allocation to the partnership of £45 million under the urban programme for the years 1979–80 to 1981–82, together with the new powers to assist industry proposed under the Inner Urban Areas Bill, will be of substantial benefit to the borough of Newham in helping to arrest industrial decline and in enhancing the employment opportunities available to its residents, of whatever ethnic origin.