§ Q3. Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an additional Under-Secretary to the Department of Employment in view of the unemployment situation.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Prime Minister aware that he could utilise an additional Under-Secretary by directing him to count the heads of all those who are unemployed but not on the register? Since the right hon. Gentleman was in a bragging mood on television last night, will he repeat the following words slowly after me, without the aid of a teleprompter: "My Government have thrown a million workers on the scrap-heap in the interests of Tory economic policy"?
§ The Prime MinisterI have never known any words of the hon. Gentleman wise enough to be repeated.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanDoes my right hon. Friend agree that due to technology the pattern of unemployment has changed from that of previous years and that it raises fundamental questions such as the age of retirement, the hours of work and the type of retraining which is necessary? What consideration is being given to these matters?
§ The Prime MinisterThese are major factors in the present level of unemployment. They are matters which surely should be taken seriously by both parties.
§ Mr. AtkinsonIs the Prime Minister aware that many of his Cabinet colleagues are now repeating his story that high unemployment is the result of high wage awards? Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he believes that, if workers did not ask for wage increases or took a reduction, they would still be in employment?
§ The Prime MinisterHigh wages combined with high productivity are desirable. This has been proved in Europe and in North America. But high wages running far ahead of productivity cannot do anything but cause unemployment. That was stated by the Leader of the Opposition when he was in power.