HC Deb 04 December 1979 vol 975 cc221-2
12. Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the level of unemployment; and what difficulties are being experienced in industries or services involved in shift work in obtaining labour, especially skilled labour.

Mr. Prior

At 8 November the number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 1,292,284, a percentage rate of 5.5. Some industries report problems in recruiting people for shift work. Certain manual engineering skills are in short supply nationally; others in certain geographical areas.

Mr. Latham

Does not the high number of unemployed and the serious skill shortage in certain areas, as anyone reading the Leicester Mercury on any day will know, suggest that the so-called black economy might be a lot larger than anyone realises?

Mr. Prior

I suggest that the black economy has been growing in this country, as it has in other countries, for a number of years. However, I think that the reductions in tax and the ability now to pay higher rates for those with high skills will help to ease this problem.

Mr. Concannon

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain parts of the country and certain industries are used to shift work? I refer in particular to the mining industry. What kind of Government policy is it that puts that at risk by allowing short-term imports of foreign subsidised coal?

Mr. Prior

If it is producing efficiently I see no necessity for any jobs in the coal industry to be put at risk.

Mr. Madel

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the difficulties in filling skilled vacancies is the shortage of instructors at certain skillcentres and the lack of agreement with the unions that when a person has completed a course he is qualified for a particular job? Will the Government have another talk with the TUC on this matter?

Mr. Prior

At national level the TUC has generally been very co-operative over this matter. There have been a number of difficulties, however, at local level. One of our problems is the difficulty of making certain that we are training people for the skills of tomorrow rather than, perhaps as all too often happens, for the skills of yesterday.

Mr. Barry Jones

Is the Secretary of State making any studies of the consequences for employment, or the lack of it, of the importation last year of over 800,000 cars and over £1 billion of steel?

Mr. Prior

These are tragedies for employment in Britain. If we can secure good industrial relations and steady work, there is a great deal more that we can produce at home to the benefit of domestic employment, the balance of payments, and our whole society. I strongly commend what the hon. Gentleman said.