HC Deb 24 October 1972 vol 843 cc963-4
Mr. Ashley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he proposes to take to reduce unemployment.

Mr. Barber

The reflationary measures which I have taken are already making a significant and welcome impact on the level of unemployment.

Mr. Ashley

Should not the welcome for the fall in unemployment be seen in perspective against the sombre background of over 800,000 unemployed? Will the right hon. Gentleman give a massive boost to industrial training schemes so that men out of work can be helped to cope with the increasingly complex new processes?

Mr. Barber

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced to the House on 8th August proposals for the extensive modernisation of industrial retraining which involves spending from £70 million to £80 million a year on the expanded training opportunity scheme and from £25 million to £40 million over and above what is raised in levies on selective grants and other forms of retraining.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that among the disabled nationally there is 15 per cent. unemployment? Is he aware that in an area like the North-East, where there is already a higher-than-average level of unemployment, the disabled suffer even more? Will he take steps to increase the employment level among disabled people?

Mr. Barber

It has always been the case that in areas where there is greater-than-average unemployment the problems of the disabled are also greater. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we have this very much in mind.

Mr. Redmond

What reliance does my right hon. Friend place on the accuracy of the present unemployment statistics issued by the Department of Employment? Does he not agree that there are places where the figures grossly overstate the position and places where they grossly understate it, with the result that the total figures are completely misleading and may be leading my right hon. Friend into wrong policies?

Mr. Barber

I do not think the total figures are grossly misleading, but when considering the actual figures in relation to policies to be pursued, one has to take into account the breakdown of the figures and what they truly represent.