Unemployed Persons (Hansard, 28 April 1981)

§ 7. Mr. Winnick
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed persons in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Prior
At 9 April, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,517,958.

§ Mr. Winnick
Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that those are disgraceful figures? Is it not clear from all the forecasts, two of which were published only yesterday, that unemployment will continue to grow substantially unless the Government change their policies? If the right hon. Gentleman cannot get his way in the Cabinet—we are told that he tries to argue a different point of view—why does he not have the guts to resign?

§ Mr. Prior
Even after the recession has ended, unemployment will continue to rise. The rate of increase is now beginning to decline and that gives us hope for the future in a difficult and tragic situation.

§ Mr. Ancram
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that once again this month the Scottish unemployment figures rose, in percentage terms, far less than the United Kingdom average? Does that not refute the Opposition's claim that, in employment terms, the Government have sold Scotland down the river?

§ Mr. Prior
This month the figure for Scotland increased by only 400. That is a good sign that Scotland is coming through the recession better than it has come through previous recessions and better than some other parts of the United Kingdom.

§ Miss Joan Lestor
Given that the Prime Minister and many of her colleagues on the Government Front Bench have consistently said that the best way to cure unemployment is to get inflation down, and given that inflation has fallen since it peaked during this Government's period of office, will he explain his statement that unemployment will continue to rise?

§ Mr. Prior
I think that all those who study such matters accept that, even after a recession has ended and output has started to grow, unemployment continues to grow for a period. This time, one of the good things is that there are increases in productivity. In the long run this is the best route by which to achieve better employment figures.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
Although I entirely share the concern that my right hon. Friend has expressed about the level of unemployment and the tragedy that it brings to many families, is he aware that certain industries, particularly the clothing and textile industries, are unhappy about the amended rules that have been effective since 1 April and which relate to the temporary short-time working compensation scheme? Is my right hon. Friend aware that tens of thousands of textile and clothing workers may find themselves out of a job unless his Department adopt a more flexible attitude?

§ Mr. Prior
The procedures have been tightened up. There is no point in subsidising the same jobs under the temporary short-term compensation scheme if there is no chance of maintaining them in the long run. It is a question of keeping the procedures right. That has necessitated some small changes, but no more than that.

§ Mr. Varley
Will the Secretary of State be candid with the House now and frankly admit that for the remainder of this Parliament there is no hope of getting unemployment below the 2.5 million mark of those who are now registered as unemployed? Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that, at the end of this Parliament, unemployment will probably not only have doubled since the Government came to power but will stand at around the 3 million mark? Unless there is a change of policy there is no chance of lowering that figure.

§ Mr. Prior
I always try to be candid with the House. Candidly, I do not know what the forecasts will show or what the results will be in three years' time. I believe that the figures will peak before too long and I hope that there will then be a decline. Britain will have to live with a higher level of unemployment than was experienced in the 1950s and 1960s. That would be true under any Government.