Unemployment (Hansard, 18 June 1981)

§ 5. Mr. Cryer
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current unemployment situation.

§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Butler)
The total number of people registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland on 14 May 1981 was 101, 522, 17.6 per cent. of all employees. While the Government are doing everything possible to promote industrial development in Northern Ireland and to alleviate the worst effects of the current recession, as I said in my reply to the hon. Member's similar question on 14 May, I regret that higher unemployment figures are to be expected for some time.

§ Mr. Cryer
How does the Minister explain that the Republic of Ireland has an unemployment rate of 13 per cent. as opposed to the 17.6 per cent. rate which he has just announced? Does that not point to the viciousness and heartlessness of current Government's policies, reaffirmed by the trampling on the wets at the Cabinet meeting yesterday? Does that not suggest that Northern Ireland might be economically better off by being united with the rest of Ireland?

§ Mr. Butler
The rate of unemployment in the Republic of Ireland, which is higher than the average in the United Kingdom, is a further reason for supposing that the 1165 recession through which the industrialised world has gone is one of the severest for many decades. Unemployment in the Republic is increasing. I regret that the economy of the Republic is likely to be in severe difficulties with its present rate of inflation. That will affect the unemployment there. That is why Her Majesty's Government are determined to put the overcoming of inflation at the top of their list of priorities.

§ Mr. Molyneaux
Is the Minister aware of the growing reluctance of industrialists to invest in areas which are regarded as war zones? Will he remind those who show legitimate concern for such areas that petrol-bombing and unemployment go hand in hand?

§ Mr. Butler
While not accepting the use of the term "war zones". I believe that the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. There can be no question but that the terrorists such as the Provisional IRA are the worst enemies of the Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland who are seeking employment as well as of the Protestants who are out of jobs.

§ Mr. Peter Robinson
Is not the Minister ashamed to give those unemployment statistics to the House? Will he care to tell us what level of unemployment he is prepared to tolerate before he changes course?

§ Mr. Butler
The hon. Gentleman knows that it is not the habit to forecast unemployment. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer), I regret that the rate of unemployment will increase for some few months. It is important that the measures which we are taking to overcome it should be successful.

§ Mr. Pendry
Does the Minister agree that, now that unemployment has reached 100,000—with an additional 1,300 only last week—it is clear that the Government have laid waste the industrial base in Northern Ireland? Has he noted the chief constable's report for 1980, which states that the economic situation has led to a great increase in crimes committed in areas of growing unemployment? Further will he comment on the job prospects for the 10,000 youngsters leaving schools in Northern Ireland next week?

§ Mr. Butler
Let me take the last question first. It is perhaps above all our concern for high unemployment among young people that has caused us to increase the number of places on the youth opportunities programme by about 40 per cent. since we came into office. With regard to the effect of Government policies, Northern Ireland is subject to the recession in exactly the same way as the rest of the United Kingdom. It has also suffered from the uncompetitiveness of British industry. In addition, it has particular problems of its own, including the structural problem of the decline of textiles and shipbuilding.