Temporary Employment Subsidy

HC Deb 14 June 1977 vol 933 cc216-7

12. Mr. Steen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the temporary employment subsidy has had on reducing unemployment.

Mr. Golding

On 13th May some 199,000 jobs were covered by the TES scheme. This is thought to reduce the unemployed register by around 120,000.

Mr. Steen

Is it not also true that the TES will cost about £475 million, that it will have no long-term effect on the unemployment problem and that it severely distorts the monthly unemployment statistics by reducing the unemployment figures by 199,000?

Mr. Golding

The simple answer is "No". The hon. Gentleman has his figures wrong, once again. Up to 13th May £234 million had been committed, and the estimate is in the range of £240 million.

Mr. Watkinson

Will my hon. Friend accept that the TES scheme has been a most valuable work in combating unemployment? Is his Department monitoring the take-up? Is he aware that in my county there are vast discrepancies, within the county itself, on take-up? Is he sure and confident that all factories and managements know of the opportunities afforded by this scheme?

Mr. Golding

The short answer is "Yes", because when redundancies are notified to us we bring to the attention of employers the availability of TES. It is often very much for trade unions concerned to discuss with management the relevance of TES to a particular redundancy.