HC Deb 04 April 1978 vol 947 cc219-21
3. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of jobs saved by the Government's employment schemes in the past year to the latest available date.

Mr. Golding

The total number of people assisted by all the employment and training measures is currently about 320,000. In the last 12 months temporary employment subsidy, designed specifically to save jobs, has done so for 185,000 people. It is also estimated that about 118,000 jobs, including 37,700 in the last year, should be safeguarded where assistance has been offered up to 31st January 1978 under Section 7 of the 1972 Industry Act, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

Mr. Ashley

Although the present schemes are warmly welcomed, particularly so far as they help young people, does my hon. Friend agree that middle-aged people who are out of work for any period of time can face a lifetime of unemployment? Therefore, will he consider a special scheme to assist middle-aged people as well as continuing the present admirable efforts to help young people?

Mr. Golding

The training opportunities programme is aimed in that direction, and we want to encourage as many people as possible to attend the Hanley skill-centre and other skillcentres throughout the country. The new special temporary employment programme is aimed at the 19-year-old group and the older people, particularly the long-term unemployed.

Mr. Ridsdale

I welcome some of the schemes which have been introduced, but why cannot the Government make it more worth while for some of the young people to join the Armed Services?

Mr. Golding

I do not think that that matter arises from the original Question. I must emphasise that our problem is to make certain that there is regular employment of all sorts for young people.

Mr. Watkinson

I welcome the Government's measures aimed at creating jobs. Has my hon. Friend noticed the report of the Pay Research Unit at Ruskin College, which pointed out that possibly one-third of a million jobs have been lost through the underspending of planned public expenditure? Does it make sense for his Department to be creating Jobs when other public bodies are losing them?

Mr. Golding

It makes sense for any Government Department to provide opportunities for the unemployed.

Mr. Gwynfor Evans

Is the Minister aware that what the Government give with one hand they take away twice with the other, as we have seen with our great coal and steel industries? Is he further aware that the withdrawal of the regional employment premium alone cost 10,000 jobs in Wales?

Mr. Golding

When the regional employment premium was withdrawn, the temporary employment subsidy was continued. In our view, that subsidy has been far more effective in fighting the battle of unemployment than was REP.

Mr. Silvester

Would it not help if we stopped talking about saving jobs? Are not these measures, although useful, merely a means of holding on to jobs which will be lost shortly unless the Government get the economy right?

Mr. Golding

I agree that the Government have to get the economy right, and that is what the Government's industrial strategy is all about, but the Question related to the saving of jobs. If Conservative Members had asked a Question about the creation of jobs, I could have talked in even greater numbers than I am now doing.