§ 26. Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for Birmingham.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAt 8th November the number of people registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area was 39,522, including 12,109 who were temporarily stopped.
§ Mr. CarterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that those figures relating to Britain's premier industrial city are disgraceful? What policies have the Government at present to deal with the situation? Furthermore, what other proposals have they to deal with the figures for November, which probably will be an increase on those for October?
§ Mr. SmithI cannot say what the figures will be for November because they will not be published for another week but as a West Midlands Member with many constituents working in Birmingham I am confident that the steps the Government have already taken will create a general upturn in demand in Birmingham and will put Birmingham back on the right employment road. Its problems are not nearly as difficult as those in Scotland and the North-East and I am sure that the situation will come right.