§ Q1. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of his latest meetings with the National Economic Development Council, he will take steps to improve the co-ordination of Ministers concerned with employment and unemployment.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)My right hon. Friends work closely together on these matters.
§ Mr. MartenWhile recognising that unemployment was fully debated on Tuesday and that the Government are 616 pledged to full employment, could the Prime Minister, as Chairman of N.E.D.C., give particular attention to the high level of unemployment among, the disabled which stands at 11 per cent., the highest since 1944?
§ The Prime MinisterYes. I share the hon. Gentleman's concern on this matter, which has been discussed previously at Question Time. He will understand that a considerable part of the problem involves the number of disabled workers who have been unemployed as a result of colliery closures. Having explained that matter, I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is no reason for complacency.
§ Mr. AtkinsonWill my right hon. Friend agree that by far the largest proportion of private capital is being invested in capital-intensive industry and that, if we are to make any serious inroads into these unemployment figures, investment must come from public sources, particularly for housing and roads?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is, of course, inevitable in a period of rapid technological change that capital-intensive industry is the area of biggest investment. That has been a social problem in this country from the days of the hand loom weaver and the Luddites. In the development areas, in particular, a number of new developments are highly capital-intensive, while others are very labour-intensive indeed.
§ Mrs. EwingDoes not the Prime Minister think that he should give the Secretary of State for Scotland yet another hat to wear on this important matter of unemployment, in view of the present high level of unemployment, the errors made by the Government in their shortfall of over 100,000 jobs, and the shocking facts disclosed in the emigration report with 92 per cent. of Scotland's natural increase having been lost?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Lady will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is Chairman of the Council in Scotland. She will be aware that the emigration figures from Scotland, published a few days ago and set out in HANSARD two days ago, are the best for many years. She will also be aware, even if she has 617 not yet fully realised her own awareness of this fact, that unemployment in Scotland would be very much higher if we were to adopt the policies which she advocates.
§ Mr. W. BaxterWill my right hon. Friend convey to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the desirability of relieving the service industries of the obligation to pay selective employment tax on disabled people in their employ, and will he see that that small concession is granted in the next Budget?
§ The Prime MinisterVarious criticisms of S.E.T. have been made in various Questions, but my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.