§ Q3. Mr. Carterasked the Prime Minister what replies he gives to those who write to him on the subject of unemployment amongst the 55 years and over age group.
§ The Prime MinisterThe great majority of such correspondents are concerned with individual cases, which I ask the Department of Employment to follow up.
§ Mr. CarterIs the Prime Minister aware that this category of unemployment accounts for approximately one-third of the total and that within that total 40 per cent. have been unemployed for a year or more? What positive proposals has he to remedy this situation, since he must realise that without such action many of these people will never again be employed?
§ The Prime MinisterThe actual figures are as follows: In 1971 the proportion was 22.7 per cent. The corresponding figure in 1967, four years ago, was 22.8 per cent. This is a considerable problem but it is not a problem which is increasing proportionately; it remains about the same. The special action which is being taken is that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has introduced special training schemes so that new skills can be acquired where possible and people can be better equipped for jobs.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs the Prime Minister aware that this problem is worse in small seaside towns? In 20 towns over 10 per cent. are unemployed, a quarter of whom are in the 55-and-over age group. Could a special committee be set up to look into this serious problem?
§ The Prime MinisterI am prepared to ask my right hon. Friend to examine this special problem in seaside towns to see whether additional action can be taken there. Those people will be covered to some extent by the training arrangements which I have described.
§ Mr. TaverneWill the Prime Minister make a statement about the report in two leading newspapers that the Government intend to take action against unemployment by use of the regulator? Is it not intolerable that this statement should come from Rome, and is it not unfortunate that uncertainty should be created and that there should be a loss of sales by the inevitable anticipation of future measures?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and learned Gentleman should have sufficient experience of Government and of the Press not to believe what he reads in newspapers.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe Prime Minister must inform us a little further. Two of the most serious papers, The Times and 247 the Financial Times, today had lead stories, dated from Rome where the Chancellor of the Exchequer is, announcing that the regulator would be used later this week. This is unprecedented. We have become used to having Budgets or mini-Budgets once a fortnight, but this degree of uncertainty is unprecedented. The country and the House are entitled to know from the Prime Minister whether we are to expect a statement on economic measures on Thursday of this week or early next week.
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that Press speculation is by no means unprecedented. He will also be aware that a variety of economic journals have been proposing a variety of actions. When the Chancellor of the Exchequer has a statement to make about any economic matter, he will make it in the House of Commons.
§ Mr. JenkinsIf, as the Prime Minister says, this is pure speculation, is he prepared to deny the two lead stories in The Times and the Financial Times?
§ The Prime MinisterI will not deal with speculation of any kind at any time, any more than the right hon. Gentleman did when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.