§ 15. Mr. Martenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken in the last two months to provide the conditions for a reduction in unemployment.
§ The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. John Diamond)The measures that my right hon. Friend announced on 22nd November will help to provide the conditions to which the hon. Gentleman refers by accelerating the improvement in the balance of payments.
§ Mr. MartenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for the past 20 months unemployment has been above the 500,000 mark, and that the export-led growth has had only a marginal effect on the level of unemployment? Does he propose any further steps to deal with unemployment?
§ Mr. DiamondWhat I propose to do is to direct the hon. Gentleman's attention to the substantial fall in unemployment since August in particular. It has fallen by as much as 65,000 during that period.
§ Mr. RankinWould not it help to reduce unemployment in Aberdeen if we decided to pay airport porters there the same wages as are paid in Heathrow for handling the same type of luggage?
§ Mr. DiamondThat is a very interesting observation, but it is not directly related to the Question on the Order Paper.