HC Deb 14 June 1977 vol 933 cc213-4
9. Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes he has made in his estimates of the trends of unemployment following the conference of Heads of Government in London during May.

Mr. Booth

None, Sir. As I frequently said, it is not possible to predict the trend of unemployment with any hope of accuracy in present circumstances. But I believe that the agreements resulting from the Downing Street conference should help towards achieving our common objective of reducing unemployment.

Mr. Tebbit

I thank the Minister for that answer, which seems to mean that he has no estimates and that no changes have been made but that he is rather optimistic. Will he say whether in his opinion the prospects for unemployment in the United Kingdom would be worse or better if Britain were to leave the Community?

Mr. Booth

First of all, it is not correct to deduce from my answer that we have no estimates. We obviously have estimates of a number of important factors which have a bearing—the increase in the number of school leavers, the drop in the number of those retiring, and so on. However, the reason why I answered in the way in which I did is that one cannot foresee some of the changing factors which are ahead. I do not think that the question of coming out of the Common Market is one on which we can base employment estimates, because we are currently working within the framework of the Market to develop a number of employment policies, and my Department has been successful in a number of applications to the Social Fund for the funding of measures dealing with employment. Therefore, while we are working within the Market we shall use its agencies to the full in order to help the employment situation.

Mr. Ashley

Does my right hon. Friend know of the official estimate that the number of registered disabled people who are now unemployed is no less than 14 per cent.? Will he bear that point in mind when considering these factors, and will he consider a six-point plan to help them, which I shall be sending to him today?

Mr. Booth

I shall certainly consider any proposals put to me to help the very difficult situation of unemployed handicapped people. I am discussing with the MSC the way in which we can give special vocational aid to handicapped people, as I indicated to the House some weeks ago.