HC Deb 09 December 1980 vol 995 cc777-8
9. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with his European Economic Community counterparts on unemployment in the Community.

Mr. Prior

I regularly discuss unemployment with my EEC colleagues, at meetings of the Council and in bilateral contacts.

Mr. Adley

As rising unemployment is a Community, not simply a British, problem, will my right hon. Friend discuss with his Community colleagues and his Government colleagues here the possibility of starting schemes—such as the Channel Tunnel—that could improve the Community infrastructure and provide employment, both in this country and in the Community?

Mr. Prior

Yes, Sir. Anything that we can do along those lines will be a step forward. Already, I hold regular consultations with Employment Ministers. However, the last conversations that I had 10 days ago were very gloomy all round.

Mr. Maclennan

Does the Secretary of State have constructive discussions with his opposite numbers about the expansion of the regional development programme, or does the Government's general opposition to increased public expenditure extend to their attitude towards increased expenditure by the Community on employment measures?

Mr. Prior

What we should really like to do is to transfer some of the funds which are at the moment devoted to the common agricultural policy to the regional fund and to the social fund. We believe that we must keep up the pressure there before we can agree to an increase in the budget as a whole.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Is it not clear that the Western world is faced with grave unemployment, for reasons of technological change, and is this not a problem which can be tackled only on a continental basis, by means of massive reconversion to more modern industries which can withstand low-cost competition?

Mr. Prior

There is a great deal in what my hon. Friend says. We should use our influence within the Community, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister did at the recent Community Council, in order to help to bring this about.