§ Mr. Clayasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed by British Shipbuilders in (a) the northern region and (b) Sunderland for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information, which reflects disposals and closures as well as reductions in employment, is as follows:558W
(a) Northern Region (b) Sunderland June 1979 28,400 9,400 June 1980 25,600 8,500 March 1981 23,800 7,000 March 1982 22,800 7,000 March 1983 19,100 5,800 March 1984 14,800 4,600 March 1985 11,100 3,750 March 1986 5,400 3,500
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the terms of reference, membership and current budget of the city action team referred to in his statement of 14 May, Official Report, column 1705, on British Shipbuilders.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe main task of the city action team is to target and co-ordinate the range of Government programmes, to bring them to bear most effectively, and to further new initiatives, working with private sector interests and local authorities. This city action team, originally set up for Newcastle—Gateshead, comprises the regional directors of the Manpower Services Commission (chairman), the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment. It has no normal budget as such, since it draws on the resources available to the three Departments. It will however have available, for the region as a whole, the £1 million referred to in the statement on 14 May by my right hon. Friend.