HC Deb 15 December 1981 vol 15 cc148-9
19. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed persons there are in the United Kingdom; what percentage this is of the working population; and whether he has any further proposals to improve employment prospects.

Mr. Alison

At 12 November the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,953,340, representing a rate of 12.2 per cent. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier to the hon. Members for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and for Swindon (Mr. Stoddart).

Mr. Evans

As the Tory Party, with the aid of Saatchi and Saatchi, made great play at the last election about the level of unemployment at that time, can the Minister tell us when, with the measures taken today, the Government will achieve that level? Will it be within the lifetime of this Parliament?

Mr. Alison

At the last election we analysed the greatest single cause of unemployment as being the rate of inflation. We have attacked the rate of inflation directly and have halved the rate of increase. We are well on course to cut the tap root that is the cause of unemployment, by bringing down the rate of inflation.

Mr. Myles

Does my hon. Friend agree that in our battle against unemployment a priority must be to make it more attractive for employers to employ by sweeping away many of the disincentives introduced by the Labour Government?

Mr. Alison

I agree with my hon. Friend. Our programme for improvements in industrial relations legislation is one element in our progress in that direction. My hon. Friend will also be aware of the young workers scheme that is soon to be launched, which will produce direct incentives to employers to recruit young employees.