HC Deb 27 March 1979 vol 965 cc244-6
8. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the unemployment figures to fall in the United Kingdom and Scotland, respectively; and, if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary for Employment (Mr. John Golding)

Any forecast of employment and unemployment is subject to error. However, the Government will continue to take all steps to create more jobs for the increasing number of people wanting work.

Mr. Dempsey

Does my hon. Friend realise how much the special employment measures he has boldly initiated are appreciated? These measures have kept hundreds of thousands off the dole. Until an upturn takes place in world trade, could not these measures be extended much more ambitiously in view of the positive assistance they give to employment prospects in the United Kingdom?

Mr. Golding

I believe that the short-time working compensation scheme will do that. The Short-time Working Compensation Bill, which I hope will receive the approval of the House, will be of great assistance, as will the proposed restructuring scheme for firms.

Mr. Haselhurst

Will the Minister say whether he expects to see some improvement in real economic jobs in the economy? How far, in any estimates that his Department has drawn up, has he taken account of the need greatly to improve productivity?

Mr. Golding

I am glad to say that the last unemployment figures showed a reduction. More importantly, in many of our cities, the number of vacancies being notified is greater this year than last. That is a cause of some encouragement.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Will the Department consider the unemployment problems of the steel industry? Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that the Ford Motor Company at Dagenham is now using 71 per cent, imported steel? At the same time, thousands of our steel workers are unemployed and many more works are threatened with closure. Is it not time that this socialist interventionist Government did something about this situation?

Mr. Golding

The practical problems of the steel industry are a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. My Department is concerned to do all that it can for redundant steel workers and areas hit by steel closures.

Mr. Andrew MacKay

Does not the Minister agree that our present unemployment problems are made worse by his Government's so-called temporary national insurance surcharge which is, in fact, a job tax? Many people are concerned that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will increase that surcharge in the Budget and that this will mean increased unemployment.

Mr. Golding

The answer to the first part of the question is "No". The answer to the second part of the question is "I would not know".