§ Mrs. HumbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, including statistical information, the effect on the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [150716]
§ Mr. CabornThe Department does not maintain statistical information at constituency level.
My hon. Friend's constituents, like many others throughout Lancashire, will have benefited from my Department's employment rights policies which include national minimum wage, working time directive, part time working regulations and improved maternity leave.
In addition, all wards in the borough of Blackpool are eligible for the Enterprise Grant Scheme.
In the North West region, my Department's policies have contributed to growth in employment by 107,000 and a fall in unemployment by 63,000; reductions in youth unemployment by 75 per cent. and long-term unemployment by 54 per cent.