HC Deb 10 April 1967 vol 744 cc717-8
13. Mr. Scott

asked the Minister of Labour how many people have now been unemployed for more than three months.

Mr. Fernyhough

At 9th January, 1967, the latest date on which a comprehensive duration analysis of the wholly unemployed in Great Britain was made, 183,612 persons had been registered as unemployed for more than 13 weeks.

Mr. Scott

Do not these figures make the Government's plans for retraining seem woefully inadequate? In view of this evidence of long-term unemployment, what plans have the Government for extending their proposals for retraining?

Mr. Fernyhough

There are plans for extending retraining. Further additional training centres will be completed before the end of this year. Furthermore, the hon. Member must be aware of the additional investment grants and the improved Selective Employment Tax repayments announced by my right hon. Friend last week, all of which will contribute, particularly in the areas which have the highest level of unemployment.

14. Mr. Scott

asked the Minister of Labour the average period for which those wholly unemployed at present have been out of work.

Mr. Fernyhough

I regret that the information is not available but on 13th March, 1967, 58.4 per cent. of the wholly unemployed had been registered for more than eight weeks.

Mr. Scott

Does not that Answer, taken with the previous one, make nonsense of any claim by the Government that what we have endured for the past seven or eight months has been redeployment rather than straightforward unemployment caused by deflationary policy?

Mr. Fernyhough

I can understand the hon. Member's deep concern over this matter. It is shared by myself, my Ministry and all my hon. Friends who sit behind me. I want the hon. Member to know that there is now every sign that these figures will continue to go down. For my part, I will do everything possible to see that the hon. Member has no need to ask a question of that kind by the end of this Parliament.

Mr. Heffer

Will my hon. Friend take it that there are many hon. Members on this side, apart from what is said on the benches opposite, who are deeply concerned about these figures? Has his Ministry given the necessary advice to his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to do something about reflating the economy in his Budget tomorrow?

Mr. Fernyhough

I am not in a position to say what advice my right hon. Friend has tendered in the Cabinet on this issue. My hon. Friend will have to await the Chancellor's statement tomorrow.