§ 9. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make on the large increase in unemployment revealed in the figures announced this week; and whether the Government have any plans to deal with this matter?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe increase in registered unemployed to which the hon. Member refers is, I am sure, regretted in all parts of the House, but it would be a mistake to exaggerate its significance. It was due in large part to the fact that the increase in unemployment that normally follows the cessation of Christmas activity was accentuated this year by bad weather on the day of the count. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statements of Government policy that have been made. That policy will be pursued with unabated vigour.
§ Mr. LawsonIs it not true to say that this increase, in line with the very small decrease in the autumn, shows that employment is in a bad state?
§ Mr. BrownI should not take that as a whole statement of the case. The hon. Member will realise that the House is most seriously concerned about the long-term unemployed, and if he will take any comparable figures he will notice that the long-term unemployed are steadily decreasing. They are now 289,000.
§ Mr. LawsonHave the Government any plans for the long-term unemployed?
§ Mr. LawsonWill the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to give us the plans then?
§ Miss WilkinsonThe right hon. Gentleman says that this increase is due to the bad weather. One of the largest increases is in the distributive trades. How can bad weather affect people in shops?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Lady is misinformed. The building industry, public works, contractors and the stone-quarrying industry, which were all affected by the bad weather, together account for an increase of 81,487 among the insured population between the ages of 16 and 64, or nearly half the total increase.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhen the number of unemployed is reduced in good weather do the Government take the credit?