HC Deb 27 February 1973 vol 851 cc1255-8
1. Mr. Cormack

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give the latest figures for unemployment in England and Wales.

The Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Maurice Macmillan)

On 12th February there were 597,415 people unemployed in England and Wales and the rate of unemployment was 2.9 per cent. The figures are provisional.

Mr. Cormack

Is not this improvement an illustration of the success of the Government's policies and should it not make us even more aware of the danger in which the country stands at the moment? Would not all the achievements of the past three years be set at nought by ill-considered action on the part of the few over the next few weeks?

Mr. Macmillan

It shows that the Government's policies are being successful in increasing employment. There are signs that investment too is increasing. The more stable our economy and the more successful we are in controlling inflation, the more likely this is to continue.

Mr. Prentice

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that everyone welcomes any reduction in unemployment without any reservations? Will he answer two points? Does he agree that the figures announced last week no longer include over 11,000 temporarily stopped, so that a complete comparison with older figures should take this into account? Will he state firmly that a figure of 750,000 unemployed for the country as a whole is still intolerably high? Ought it not to remain the priority of the Government to take new measures to bring that figure down?

Mr. Macmillan

I certainly acknowledge the point the right hon. Gentleman has made about the temporarily stopped. That has been made clear in the presentation of the figures. The trend of unemployment as shown by the three-monthly moving averages is still significantly downwards and the fall in unemployment is the greatest at this time of the year since the war.

Mr. Marten

Is enough being done to help the mobility of labour so that people can move farther afield for their jobs if they so wish?

Mr. Macmillan

My hon. Friend has a valid point. The Government have stepped up the range of assistance provided for meeting the expenses of people living away from home and those incurred in household removal. About 13,440 people took advantage of these measures in the last nine months of 1972 as compared with 6,180 in the equivalent period of 1971.

3. Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage unemployment has increased in the city of Leicester since June 1970.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Dudley Smith)

Between June 1970 and February this year the unemployment rate for Leicester rose from 1.2 per cent. to 2.2 per cent., an increase of 1.0 percentage points. This takes no account of the seasonal factors involved.

Mr. Janner

Taking into account all the factors, has not the unemployment rate in the Leicester area doubled during this period? Is not the hon. Gentleman aware of the tremendous hardship caused by unemployment in a previously very prosperous city?

Mr. Smith

I think that the hon. and learned Gentleman over-eggs the pudding. Unemployment in Leicester has fallen by more than 800 in the past year, it has fallen by 350 in the past month and the rate now is well below the national average rate. I hope that the hon. and learned Gentleman will now underline this good news for his constituents, as he was eager to underline the temporary rise in unemployment towards the end of 1971.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Is my hon. Friend aware that these figures are highly satisfactory—

Mr. Janner

Absolute rubbish.

Mr. Lewis

—when one takes into account the recent influx of immigrant workers into Leicester with which Leicester is coping?

Mr. Smith

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that sensible comment. The Uganda Resettlement Board's figures show that about 2,200 people have gone to Leicester of whom about 350 are registered as unemployed. The city has done an excellent job in accommodating them and getting them employment.

18. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure of wholly unemployed in the West Midlands and in Walsall respectively; and what action he proposes to reduce these numbers.

Mr. Dudley Smith

On 12th February there were 3,381 people unemployed in the Walsall travel-to-work area and 61,577 in the West Midlands Region. The figures are provisional.

The West Midlands, including Walsall, should continue to benefit from the measures we have taken to stimulate employment in the country as a whole.

Mr. Stonehouse

Although that improvement is welcome, are not these figures still very serious? In regard to Walsall, what assessment has been made of the effects of the closure of the Tube Investments factory? As for the West Midlands as a whole, is the Minister aware that the high interest rates which are now being charged by banks are a severe disincentive to many small industries to engage in the industrial reinvestment on which future employment will depend? Will the hon. Gentleman do something about that?

Mr. Smith

In regard to Tube Investments, we shall be prepared to do all we can to help those who may be displaced. With respect to the right hon. Gentleman, however, he paints far too gloomy a picture. The position in the West Midlands at the moment is very encouraging. There has been a fall of 10 per cent. in unemployment since last month. Over the past year the fall was 26,600, which represents a reduction of 30 per cent.—a considerable achievement.

Major-General Jack d'Avigdor-Gold-smid

Is my hon. Friend aware that in the neighbouring constituency of Lichfield and Tamworth the unemployment rate has considerably decreased?

Mr. Smith

Yes, Sir. This reflects the general decline which has been going on and shows that the Government's measures are working, and working very well.