§ 4. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the proportion of unemployed males in Great Britain who are registered at employment exchanges in development areas; and what was the corresponding figure in January, 1970.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. David Howell)Out of all males registered as unemployed in Great Britain, at January, 1972, and January, 1970, the proportions registered in the development areas were 33.7 and 35.5 per cent., respectively.
§ Mr. StrangDoes the Under-Secretary agree that those figures, which reflect a high national level of unemployment, cannot be interpreted as indicating that the regional problem has diminished? In fact, the only true measure of unemployment in development areas is the absolute rate of unemployment. Does the hon. Gentleman also agree that there is a crying need for a new initiative from the Government on regional policy? Furthermore, will he bear in mind that the percentage of unemployed in Scotland has increased and that to that extent we have a particular Scottish problem?
§ Mr. HowellCertainly the regional disparity remains as it was before. The figures show that it has fallen a little, but, on the whole, I agree that it remains. As for the need for further stimulus, an immense and powerful stimulus has been given in a variety of ways and in a variety of programmes. This will work its way through the economy and will help.