HC Deb 05 June 1967 vol 747 cc607-8
15. Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the Minister of Labour, what is the latest figure in total numbers and percentage for unemployment in Northern Ireland; and how this compares with the corresponding month in 1962.

Mr. Fernyhough

The figures were 40,336 and 7.9 per cent. in May, 1967, and 36,883 and 7.6 per cent. in May, 1962.

Sir Knox Cunningham

One accepts that employment in Northern Ireland is primarily a matter for the Government of Northern Ireland, but is the hon. Gentleman aware that Her Majesty's Government's economic policy has raised the level of unemployment in Northern Ireland? What steps do they intend to take to help the Government of Northern Ireland to reduce this alarming figure?

Mr. Fernyhough

I accept that the figures are marginally higher in Northern Ireland than they have been, though only marginally so. As the hon. and learned Gentleman knows, for all the years when he sat on this side of the House this problem was almost as bad as it is today. But it is true that Northern Ireland has suffered less relatively as a consequence of the July measures than has the rest of the United Kingdom, and I assure him that all the resources which are available to development areas are made available to Northern Ireland. Although we do not declare development areas in Northern Ireland, we do what we can to get industry to go there, and I hope that the Northern Ireland Government will decide to accept the principle of the S.E.T. premium.

Sir knox Cunningham

It is the highest unemployment rate in the United Kingdom.

Mr. McNamara

Would my hon. Friend agree that there would be considerably more sympathy for the situation in Northern Ireland if it were felt that the Northern Ireland Government were doing more to deal with the tremendous amount of unemployment, which is spread around the country, and not just concentrating their efforts in a few areas? The establishment of some extra work and employment west of the Bann would get more sympathy on this side of the House.

Mr. Fernyhough

It is true that the Northern Ireland Government have net only a Minister of Commerce but a Minister of Finance, and perhaps some of the questions from Northern Ireland Members addressed to us might be addressed to them.

Mr. R. Carr

Does the Minister realise that his answer to this, as to the preceding Questions, shows that unemployment in the developing areas has risen to higher levels and at a faster rate in this "squeeze" than in 1961–62?

Mr. Fernyhough

If the right hon. Gentleman had listened to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Wright), he would have known that that was not true.

Sir Knox Cunningham

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall seek to raise the matter again.