HC Deb 15 January 1981 vol 996 cc1128-9
4. Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the most recent unemployment figures for the Province.

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Butler)

I am deeply concerned about the present level of unemployment, but the numbers out of work are likely to remain high for some time. The Government are taking active steps to promote employment and to assist the unemployed, including the recent package of special measures. But I believe that for Northern Ireland, as for the rest of the United Kingdom, the real solution lies in the determined pursuit of the Government's policies, which will provide the necessary sound industrial base for the economy of Northern Ireland.

Mr. Parry

Is the Minister aware of recent statements by trade union and Church leaders about the appallingly high level of unemployment in Northern Ireland? What positive steps do the Government have it in mind to take substantially to reduce the unemployment figures in the Province?

Mr. Butler

The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the details of the special measures to which I have just referred, including a sum of about £9 million to provide additional trading schemes, and so on. He will also know of the additional sums of money that have been allocated and, indeed, reallocated, within the resources available to help the industrial and energy sectors. Those will go some way towards helping a situation, which, I admit, is grave.

Mr. McCusker

The people of Northern Ireland will be glad to know that the Minister is concerned about the situation. However, as we approach a figure of 100,000 unemployed in the Province, what level does the Minister believe the Province can tolerate before there is a real breakdown in the community?

Mr. Butler

The hon. Gentleman knows well enough that it is not the practice of Ministers to make forecasts. I believe that the level of unemployment will continue to rise for some little while.

Rev. Ian Paisley

As many indigenous Ulster firms which have good order books are running into difficulty and must close clown because of cash-flow problems, will the Minister take that fact into consideration and ensure that they get the same favourable financial consideration as firms that come in from outside the Province?

Mr. Butler

The hon. Gentleman makes a serious point. It will continue to be my policy to try to attract new investment into the Province. Equally, I believe that we must try to assist those companies that are there.

Mr. Pendry

I welcome the Minister in his new role and understand why he does not wish to forecast the unemployment level. Does he accept that we hope that he will not equal the all-time record of his predecessor, who oversaw a 35 per cent. increase in unemployment in Northern Ireland within 19 months? Does he accept also that his urgent task is to prod his right hon. Friend into standing up in the Cabinet in order to ensure that an allocation of funds is given to Northern Ireland to meet the requirements there?

Mr. Butler

I do not think that my right hon. Friend needs any encouraging from me to fight the corner of the Province in the Cabinet. The allocation of public funds to the Province is approximately one-third higher per capita than it is for the rest of the United Kingdom. I assure the House that I shall do everything that I can to ensure that the increase in the rate of unemployment is as small as possible and that as soon as possible we shall work towards a reduction.