Vol. 657 No. 2
1 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions she has taken or plans to take to address the rising cost of consumer goods and services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24096/08]
I share the Deputy's concern about increases in the price of goods and services. The greater part of these increases reflect global trends over which the Government has little or no control. Approximately 60% of the rise in the consumer price index in the year to May 2008 was attributable to rises in the price of fuels, food and mortgage interest rates.
A comparison of our inflation performance with that of other EU member states underlines the extent to which rising prices here reflect international pressures. Official figures recently released by EUROSTAT show that, measured on a harmonised basis, our inflation rate of 3.7% in the year to May 2008 was identical to the average for the euro area and below the average of 3.9% for the European Union as a whole. Only three member states in the euro area and a further two member states outside the euro area had a lower annual inflation rate over this period.
While Government has little power to influence the main causes of recent increases in the price of food and fuel, I have taken action in areas where we can be in a position to exert some influence. In recent weeks, I have met separately with IBEC and leading members of Retail Ireland and have also written to major individual retailers to express the Government's concern at the apparent reluctance of the retail sector generally to pass on to consumers the benefit of the euro's appreciation against sterling. I was told at these meetings that, while the retail price of goods imported from the United Kingdom had lagged exchange rate movements due to factors such as the forward purchase of goods and currency, there had already been reductions in the price of some goods and further reductions were in the pipeline.
The consumer price index data for the month of May 2008 confirm that there have been modest reductions in the price of a number of goods, such as breakfast cereals and biscuits, known to have a significant UK import content. I intend to continue my engagement with the retail sector in the period ahead with a view to securing a satisfactory outcome for Irish consumers.
I have also met the National Consumer Agency on this issue. As a result of these discussions, the agency is undertaking further price surveys, including the survey published yesterday which compared the prices of a range of branded and own brand goods in the Republic and Northern Ireland. The findings of the survey amply demonstrate the need for a more competitive retail marketplace in the Republic. The publication of more regular and more comprehensive price information by the National Consumer Agency and a willingness by consumers to act on that information have a key role to play in the development of a more competitive marketplace.
Deputies will be aware of widespread consumer anger about the price of goods and the growing fear of those on tight budgets. While I am not on a particularly tight budget, I returned from my local Spar outlet the other day having paid almost €100 for a basket of goods which had very little in it. I appreciate the Minister earns €5,000 per week and probably has her driver do her shopping, but rising prices are beginning to hurt.
Yesterday, the National Consumer Agency published an interesting price survey which showed that when VAT and excise are excluded, Tesco own brand prices are 17% higher in the Republic than in the North, whereas the difference between branded items is 28%. While it may be possible to attribute the difference of 17% to higher operating costs in the Republic, one cannot justify a price differential of 28%. In the case of Dunnes Stores, own brand goods in the South cost 11% more than in the North, while branded items cost 31% more, indicating an unjustified mark-up of 20%.
Surveys carried out by political parties, newspapers and the National Consumer Agency have provided sufficient evidence of the problem. The time for analysis is over and the time for action is upon us. We know from the independent survey published by the National Consumer Agency that prices for branded goods are more or less the same across supermarkets. Does the Minister accept that her advice to shop around is rubbish?
The Minister's statement that she met representatives of Retail Ireland and IBEC indicates she met press officers or policy officers. Who did she meet from Tesco, Lidl and Dunnes Stores? When did she meet them and what did she say to them?
For the benefit of the Deputy, I do my own shopping. I hope the woman beside Deputy Varadkar will give him a slap for the comment he made.
Deputy Clune does not have a driver.
She should at least consider doing so, especially in light of the findings of a recent survey showing that women work more than men. If I receive €5,000 per week, I would like to see the job I do because I do not receive that sum.
I take the issue of price increases seriously. It is also a serious issue for consumers and it was on that basis that I took action. I will continue to vigorously pursue issues of major importance to consumers. As Deputy Varadkar will be aware, many retailers in the Republic are involved in price tracking. Serious issues have arisen in comparative analyses between North and South and I will continue to pursue these vigorously.
I met the director general of IBEC and those within IBEC who are in charge of Retail Ireland. I then met Retail Ireland, which is made up of the largest retailers in the country as well as some small retailers. As the Deputy will be aware, Dunnes Stores is not part of Retail Ireland. I met the chief executive of Tesco as well as many other chief executives and those from the UK who made themselves available. I met senior management within all the groups. During our discussions both sides showed an appreciation that there are issues. We have seen modest reductions in some prices in recent weeks, as one would note if one tracked prices in newspaper articles or shops.
To ensure full transparency on the issue of the cost of doing business, I have asked Forfás to carry out a comparative analysis of the costs of business, North and South. This issue was raised by the retail companies. When one strips out most of the price differentials the National Consumer Agency found in the study it carried out on my behalf, one finds that the cost of doing business, North and South, is not necessarily an indicator of the real reasons.
The sterling differential must be passed on to consumers.
Equally, as a Deputy from a Border county, I wish to ensure that we have a strong retail sector in the South. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that happens and that people who are involved and working in that sector are assured of sustainable jobs. There is a need for a little patriotism in this country.
Go raibh maith agat, a Thánaiste. We are well over time on the question.
That can only be done on the basis that prices in the South are made available.
Ceist a dó in ainm an Teachta Willie Penrose.
On a brief supplementary——
I am afraid we do not have time for it. I call Deputy Willie Penrose's question.
——the Tánaiste stated she met Tesco and that she had not met Dunnes Stores. Did she meet Lidl, Aldi and Superquinn?
The Deputy should allow the Chair to proceed with the business.
The representatives——
She did not meet them directly, did she?
Not yet.
I have called Deputy——
For Deputy Varadkar's information——
Tánaiste, I have called Ceist a dó.
——I contacted every retailer in Ireland in written form and I asked them to revert back to me privately, given that some of the information may be sensitive. I have received replies.
I would be obliged if both sides of the House would have regard to the Chair.
2 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she is taking, in view of the fact that the numbers on the live register have gone through the 200,000 barrier, to stem the number of job losses, to provide new training opportunities for those who have lost their jobs and to encourage the creation of new employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23971/08]
3 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has presented her with any new projection for employment and unemployment in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in view of recent economic developments and projections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24097/08]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
The most recent figures published by the Department of Social and Family Affairs show that there were 201,756 persons on the live register in May. However, it is important to remember that the live register is not a measure of unemployment as it includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers who might be signing on from time to time.
Unemployment is measured by the quarterly national household survey, collated and published by the CSO. The current rate of unemployment is 4.6% or 102,100 people in quarter 1, December to February 2008. This reflects an increase of 8,700 in the year.
The increase in unemployment was not unexpected, particularly in the context of the slowdown in the construction industry. It is generally accepted that the strong rate of growth experienced over the past few years could not continue and the economy is now entering a period of adjustment.
However, this increase in unemployment must be seen in the context of the substantial increase in employment by 224,300 in the three-year period since 2005. This compares with an unemployment increase of 19,500 in the same period. The number of people currently in employment is 2,135,100 and employment has increased by 53,800 or 2.6% in the past 12 months.
The employment market still has job vacancies. The most recent FÁS-ESRI employment and vacancies survey for April 2008 shows that 7% of firms are reporting vacancies.
In the budget projection, published by the Department of Finance last December, unemployment was forecast to average at about 5.5% over the period 2008 to 2010. Employment was forecast to continue to grow this year by about 24,000. Some other economists are still forecasting this level of employment growth. For example, following publication of the quarterly national household survey on 5 June last, Bloxhams revised its 2008 forecast from no net change in employment this year to an average rise of 25,000. The Department of Finance will publish a revised forecast in its pre-budget outlook in October.
As regards the economic situation and the impact on the labour market, the focus is now on flexibility in the delivery of employment and training programmes so that those who are affected by the slowdown and by unemployment can be assisted appropriately and in good time.
After three months on the live register those who are still unemployed are referred by Department of Social and Family Affairs to FÁS to assist them into training or employment. FÁS is working through its own employment service and with the local employment service provided by area based partnerships to provide increased interviewing and caseload management capacity to respond to the increased numbers on the live register. The range of integrated support services provided by FÁS also involves information sessions, skills analysis, training/retraining courses and job placement. These services will be available for those who become redundant because of company restructuring or closures.
Specifically, FÁS is implementing a range of short and medium term actions for those affected by the increase in unemployment and the construction slowdown, such as: putting in place training to upskill construction workers in emerging needs; business training and mentoring for workers from larger enterprises entering self-employment; developing measures to ensure continuity in the apprenticeship system; and promoting access for mobile workers to construction jobs elsewhere in the EU, including the UK.
FÁS is also working on increasing its market share of vacancies in the employment market through a range of marketing efforts. As a result, vacancies notified to FÁS in 2007 increased by 12%.
The enterprise development agencies of my Department, including IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, are working to ensure that we continue to grow the economy and jobs even in the current more challenging environment. To facilitate this we need to ensure that our competitiveness is sustained into the future.
I thank the Minister of State. On behalf of the Labour Party, I am shocked by the blasé reply. Nobody is in charge. Nobody is taking this seriously. For the first time since 1999 there are more than 200,000 people on the live register. It is the biggest increase — 31% over a 12-month period — since the live register came into being in 1968. Conditions in the labour market have taken a decided turn for the worst since January last. Live register unemployment is up by 35,700. There is a 20.8% increase in the seasonally adjusted numbers on the register since the end of December last, 25,500 men and 10,100 women. Redundancies are up by 13,564 since January. Economists predict that the unemployment rate will rise to 6% or more.
We reflect the public view that there is no sense in anyone being in charge. There is no sense in anybody taking this matter seriously. The blasé nature of the Minister of State's reply vindicates that viewpoint. Naively, I stated last March that if the Government did not take action soon the number on the live register would be almost 200,000 by the end of the year and that the Government must end its complacency. What action will the Government take? What interventions will the Government make to improve the situation? Will this be moved to the top of the Government's political agenda? What attempts are being made to save existing jobs and what efforts is the Department making to attract alternative industry to places that are losing jobs and where jobs are being displaced?
The answer was not blasé. One must look at the matter in the context of what we have achieved in recent years, particularly in view of the fact that there are more than 2.1 million persons working in the Republic. Certainly, the forecast is that there will be change, particularly in the construction industry. FÁS has been very involved in early intervention in assessing skill shortages for people who may be let off, where they can go and where they can be retrained. FÁS is compiling statistics on a regular basis to ensure that it knows exactly the people who are unemployed and whether there can be job placements and if job placements cannot be found immediately, that there are training and retraining programmes. FÁS has been forceful in that regard. I commend FÁS and I want to ensure that it continues such efforts.
In the national development plan there is a commitment that the national skills strategy is a fundamental plank in ensuring that we remain competitive and that we have a highly mobile, flexible, educated workforce. We will continue to fund this and ensure that in the national development plan it is given priority. Those are the two areas, early intervention from FÁS and the national skills strategy.
In the context of what we are trying to do in bringing forward investment, the position is we are remaining competitive. We have a low corporation tax. IDA Ireland is actively promoting Ireland as a place to do business and we continually market this country as having a highly educated, mobile workforce and a strong economy.
All the indicators show that, while there are challenges ahead, the fundamentals of the economy are sound compared with those of the previous generation that faced problems in the 1980s. The Government is committed in ensuring that we run a solid economy. The Government is very much in charge. That is evident in the context of what we are doing in the national development plan.
It seems the Government in many ways is like an old actress dining out on her reputation rather than her appearance. It is a Government in denial. The budget figures show a projected 5.5% standardised unemployment rate — the ESRI and FÁS state 6% or more while Bloxhams states 6%.
On a point of order, to whom is Deputy Varadkar referring? Is he referring to me as the old actress?
I refer to the Government.
The Minister of State is a has-been. He was a star.
We could always say the following of those guys: always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
Allow Deputy Varadkar to continue.
Essentially, any time we discuss employment in this House we get this lecture about how many jobs have been created in the past ten years. One could get the same lecture from Fine Gael and Labour, that when we were in government last 1,000 jobs were being created a week. I am not interested in any lectures about the past, I am interested in the future and what is happening today. Unemployment is going up and the Government is in denial about it.
This is a simple question. Does the Minister of State stand over the Government's projection of 5.5% unemployment at the end of this year or does he accept the reality, what everyone is saying, that unemployment will rise to 6% this year and higher next year, and that unemployment is effectively the human cost of economic mismanagement by the Government?
It is always important to remind people what we have achieved, especially the Opposition which might sometimes be in denial in that regard. We are concerned about the situation in which we find ourselves. There is an international credit crisis which is causing pressures in housing and elsewhere. That reflects on the construction industry.
There have been increases in fuel and commodity prices. There are considerable international challenges but the fundamentals are sound and the Government is promoting Ireland as a place to do business. Ireland is still very competitive and the IDA continually markets it. There are some good news stories in the pipeline. The IDA is confident it can still market Ireland as a positive place in which to do business.
Obviously, redundancies and jobs losses are very regrettable for the individuals concerned. That is why FÁS is very much involved in early intervention, in assessing skills requirements and job placements and in training people for available job placements.
A recent survey shows that 7% of companies have job vacancies. There are difficulties in certain sectors of the economy. That was acknowledged in last year's budget when it was pointed out quite clearly that the construction industry was going through change and a readjustment. That change has been very sharp and is the reason FÁS is concentrating on retraining construction workers.
Is it true the FÁS report stated that 65,000 construction jobs will go by the end of 2009? Is it that serious? Will the Minister of State lift the 2004 cap on participation in community employment schemes to allow increased numbers to participate, especially in rural areas?
Given the impact on the construction industry, will the Minister of State raise at Government level the idea of borrowing for capital purposes to stimulate the construction industry, especially to help generate activity in the schools building programme so that badly needed schools can be built for children? It would maintain a level of construction. Would that not be productive? It would be borrowing for capital rather than current purposes.
I thank the Deputy. The Government values any progressive ideas. When the Minister for Finance is framing his budget, he will take into account the economic realities facing us. I refer to the projections in regard to unemployment. Everybody knows the world economy is going through a state of flux. The weak dollar and sterling are causing our exporters grave difficulties. We will consider any proposal. The Minister for Finance will formulate his budget and will come forward with very positive proposals to ensure we remain competitive and to stimulate the economy.
We are hearing about the international situation again. This is one of the excuses which is always trotted out. Of course, we are in a more difficult international environment economically but unemployment in Ireland is rising much faster than in other countries. I believe we are only one of three of the EU 15 in which unemployment is rising. Does the Minister of State acknowledge that and that unemployment in Ireland is now higher than it is in the Netherlands, Denmark, Britain, Australia and America? The Minister of State should not hide behind Italy or France. He should at least acknowledge that the situation in Ireland is worse than it is in many of our key competitors. Singapore and Israel are the other examples.
I remind the Deputy that the Irish unemployment rate is well below the EU average.
That includes Romania and France.
We are in the euro zone and we know there are challenges. The Government is committed to ensuring that we remain competitive, that we have key policies in place, that we fund the national skills strategy and that the IDA actively markets the country. It is important we state that there are international challenges and that this is not because of failed policies.
This is an open exporting economy dependent on exporting to the global market. That is causing grave difficulty not only for Ireland but for our European competitors as well. I travelled to India and elsewhere but people are still looking to Ireland as a place to do business. We should not undermine the fact that this is still a competitive nation with a highly skilled workforce and that Government policies in place will ensure that continues to be the case.
4 Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to review the role of county and city enterprise boards in the development of micro-enterprises; the changes that she envisages in the range of services provided by CEBs; her views on whether the target market for CEBs has changed in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24098/08]
A comprehensive review of the role, functions and remit of the county enterprise boards in the development of micro-enterprises was conducted in 2004, that is, the Fitzpatricks review. The review largely endorsed the activities and operations of the CEBs and concluded that there is justification for continued State support to micro-enterprises and that the CEB network can continue to play a useful role in the overall national enterprise development policy. It also recommended that, in providing assistance to micro-enterprises, CEBs should focus more on economic, rather than social or local development, objectives; there should be a renewed focus on the core enterprise mission; the issues of potential deadweight, displacement and duplication should be more systematically and rigorously addressed; and there should be a move away from direct grant aid to repayable finance as well as a greater provision of soft supports as an alternative to grant aid.
Both the enterprise strategy group report and the recent report of the Small Business Forum endorsed the key recommendations of the Fitzpatricks report on the primary micro-enterprise focus of CEB support and the range of services the boards offer. While it is acknowledged that there will be differences in requirements and emphasis in the areas served by the various CEBs, I remain satisfied that the current core micro-enterprise remit of the CEBs should remain their primary target market and that the services currently offered by the CEBs, in terms of both financial and non-financial assistance, to that sector represent the most appropriate mix of services.
In the context of its key policy role my Department in association with the CEB central co-ordination unit within Enterprise Ireland and with the CEBs, monitors the range of support services offered by the CEBs on an ongoing basis particularly in the light of the economic climate.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am also very happy with the enterprise boards which do an excellent job. I served on one for years. However, it is time we expanded their role in order that they can help more people and companies, both start-up and existing ones.
Having served on a board and spoken to people on other boards, I know they are quite limited in terms of who they can help. I agree there is some discretion but we should give them more scope to try to help more companies. Some companies have let go two or three staff members over the past couple months. That has happened quietly and has not hit the headlines. We have a duty to get the enterprise boards to help them, whether in trying to sustain some of those jobs, in trying to expand their services or in giving them more capital to create more jobs.
We probably all agree that small and medium sized enterprises will keep this country going over the next couple of years. We could use the enterprise boards to channel more grants into existing and new businesses. I would like to hear the Minister of State's thoughts on giving them more scope to help more companies, not only manufacturing ones, and to provide not only employment grants. I know there are partnership bodies but the enterprise boards are best positioned to help maintain and create new jobs because they know how the councils and Government works.
I am particularly familiar with the county enterprise boards and the impact they have on local economies. The range of services they provide, including mentoring, education and training, and their co-operation with the chambers of commerce and so on should be encouraged. As I said, in the context of the current economic climate, we will look at submissions coming in from county enterprise boards in regard to the range of services and finance they offer. Their link to Enterprise Ireland strengthens their position as a player in the economy.
Within the county enterprise board structure, we are looking at the high potential start-ups which will give us the core number of companies required to improve our export targets. The county enterprise boards and the small and medium sized businesses generally are now centre stage. This is the focus of the work in the Department. The Minister, when allocating functions to the Ministers of State, asked me to specifically look at county enterprise boards. Drawing from my knowledge of the boards and my background in business I intend to encourage them to work more and more to maintain and sustain jobs and to link to Enterprise Ireland, which is doing a significant job abroad. On a recent trade mission to Mexico and Brazil, Irish companies notched up contracts worth in the region of €15 million, which is significant in the context of sustaining jobs at home. Enterprise Ireland will continue this work and create the focus and potential for the small business sector which relies on county enterprise boards and their direction.
I accept we are on the same wavelength on this matter. There are at least a couple of IDA enterprise centres in every county, but many are left empty. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for both organisations, albeit under different Ministers of State. Could there be a deal done whereby enterprise boards might make better use of unused IDA land or buildings? Perhaps the Minister of State will bear this in mind in his review, as it may be a worthwhile consideration. The enterprise boards have made good use of their land and buildings.
The former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Micheál Martin, replied to this question some months ago.
Not really.
He said the number of IDA-owned premises is reducing in comparison with recent years. There is always scope for the local authority and county enterprise board, with the local chamber of commerce, to propose plans and initiatives for vacant buildings or sites. It is important that local authorities zone the appropriate amount of land to ensure it is available for businesses. Recently in County Carlow, Merck Sharp & Dohme was attracted to a location because it had 23 acres of land and buildings available and the backing of a nearby third level facility. These facilities brought in that business. We need to examine the possible options available to enterprise boards, Enterprise Ireland and IDA to ensure we can continue economic growth and job replacement to meet the challenge of outside factors.
5 Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the loss of high quality jobs that require quality education and training, most notably a company, the details of which are supplied, in County Cork whose employees have third or fourth level education qualifications; her views on whether Ireland is losing knowledge economy jobs; her plans to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24099/08]
I express my disappointment at the decision of the company to close its Cork operations and I have asked the State development agencies under the aegis of my Department to make every effort to assist the workers being made redundant in securing alternative employment.
Freescale is a large global company that regularly makes adjustments to resources as a normal course of operations to meet changing business requirements in a very dynamic industry. The company has decided to streamline its cellular design centres and as part of this decision is proposing that all programmes in its Cork design facility be transferred to other locations and the facility be closed. The closure of the facility is expected in September 2008 and will result in 47 employees losing their jobs.
IDA Ireland is providing ongoing assistance to local management in Freescale, Cork, and is using its network of overseas offices to find alternative employment in the radio frequency and wireless technology area for affected employees in the company. FÁS has been in contact with the management of Freescale and will make arrangements to register the employees. The full range of FÁS services will be made available to the employees, as will the services and supports of Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise board for any worker who is considering establishing her or his own business.
A variety of differing and complex factors, not just cost related, might influence a decision to relocate all or part of a firm's functions. In addition to costs, factors might include business takeovers, consolidations and changes in product or market focus. The result is flows of investment and employment across borders. Ireland successfully manages this process through our policies on growing indigenous enterprise and attracting and embedding foreign direct investment. These policies have enabled us to win many prestigious and value added investments and have enabled us to replace lost jobs with others of equal or higher value in the economy.
The pipeline of new business for which the IDA is competing is as strong as at any time in recent years. We measure success now in terms of the number, quality and spread of investments, not just in job numbers alone. Ireland is now a global competitor for research and innovation investment from multinational companies and leading research institutions.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
We are progressing on several fronts to meet the targets of the strategy for science, technology and innovation and the development of a knowledge economy. I believe we will continue to achieve and sustain our excellence in research from which our economy will reap rewards. The key to our success will be derived from seeing the outputs of current research in terms of new innovations and discoveries that will directly impact on peoples lives. That is to say these outputs will lead to jobs, improvements in healthcare and new products and services.
We continue to have an educated and skilled workforce which will be the cornerstone of the next phase of our economic development. We are investing in infrastructure, people, innovation and enterprise. We are confidently investing for our future. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the State development agencies will continue to support enterprise development and job creation. I reaffirm that the State agencies will continue to work closely with each other and with local interests to assist in delivering an integrated approach to investment and enterprise development, not just in County Cork but throughout the State.
I asked about this company because the jobs lost were high-tech in nature. Some 10% of employees had post-graduate qualifications while 50% of those in the technology centre had attained a fourth-level standard of education. In the Taoiseach's acceptance speech recently he spoke of the value of science, technology and innovation and suggested these are the types of jobs we seek to create. I am concerned about these developments and I wish to hear the Minister's reaction to these job losses, as they are high-end in nature and the type of jobs on which we are basing the future of the economy. The Minister of State mentioned cost factors in his reply. Perhaps he could expand on the cost factors influencing this decision.
I said "in addition to cost factors", as cost factors affect any company or business environment.
Were costs not a factor in the closure?
There are other factors such as firm consolidation, business take-overs and market forces. County Cork has benefited from an increase in overall jobs from 13,000 in 1998 to more than 20,000 last year. These are largely in the bio-pharmaceutical and ICT sectors. The Deputy is correct in that the Government is committed to developing jobs at third and fourth level, which we call value-added jobs. It is committing €300 million this year to both Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to help progress this aim.
It is important that we encourage a take up-in the study of science and technology. However, the Freescale closure sends out the wrong message to students such as those who have just completed the leaving certificate. The Minister of State encourages such people to study science and technology, yet the type of job that the Government and the IDA seek to attract is gone. Does this send out a message to potential students of science?
No, the opposite is the case. The thrust of our development is to encourage new jobs in this area. For example, Google encourages employees to go along that line. The primary and secondary education sectors have a very active programme to encourage children to take up science and engineering. This is starting to bear fruit already.
If we are losing jobs in the area——
We are not losing jobs; we are actually increasing jobs in the area.
The time for Priority Questions has expired. We must, therefore, take Questions No. 6 in ordinary time.
