Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 March 1977.

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Photo of Mr Eric Heffer Mr Eric Heffer , Liverpool, Walton 12:00, 31 March 1977

I wish that hon. Members would not keep churning out the same gramophone record the whole time. Let us deal with the reality of the problem. The reality is that with Government assistance we can create nursery factory units in city centres and ensure that small businesses are attracted to such factories, thereby creating employment. That means assistance with rents, and so on. It also means, incidentally, the extension of the scheme in areas of high unemployment, because we shall not get, overnight, full employment in those areas, much as I should like to see that happen. However, there are areas of the country, around Gloucester, Worcester, and so on, that do not have the same levels of unemployment, although there are still certain skilled workers who could well be absorbed in those areas.

I should like to see an extension of the scheme for assistance to workers, not merely in helping them to travel and, perhaps, helping them to buy a new house if they move from a private house. What about those living in council houses? That is a very important matter.