§ 19. Mr. Prittasked the Minister of Labour what is his estimate of the amount of unemployment there would be in this country in the absence of the aid to be given by the European Recovery Programme; in what trades it would mainly prevail; what employment he estimates will actually be created by that programme; and in what trades.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIt is not possible to make any such statistical estimates, but, as pointed out in the foreword, and in paragraphs 50, 193 and 245 of the Economic Survey for 1948, there is no doubt that in the absence of Marshall Aid, widespread unemployment would develop.
§ Mr. PrittWhile accepting the impossibility of making any assessment, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to persuade the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to give up blandly asserting in this House that the figure is two million?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI am sure that my hon. Friend will note what has been said by the hon. and learned Member.