§ 8. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 18 November, Official Report, c. 409, if he will set out evidence on which he bases his statement that unemployment is a factor in crime.
§ Mr. WhitelawI draw the attention of the hon. Gentleman to the review of this question in Research Bulletin No. 14 issued by my Department.
§ Mr. ParryIs the Secretary of State aware of the increasing problems of glue sniffing and solvent abuse among young school leavers and the young unemployed in Liverpool and in other inner city areas? In view of the massive level of unemployment among young people caused by the Government, does he accept that this manifestation is partly caused by increased crime?
§ Mr. WhitelawI have made my position clear over a number of years. I accept at once that unemployment is a factor, but I have never accepted that it is a main cause.
§ Mr. WrigglesworthIn view of the figures for serious crimes published by the Home Department yesterday, does the Home Secretary accept that for the first time in postwar years the number of serious crimes will rise above 3 million? As there was so much talk in the debate last night by Conservative Back Benchers about manifesto commitments—
§ Mr. SkinnerWhat about the hon. Gentleman's in 1979?
§ Mr. Wrigglesworth—what do the Government propose to do to stem the rising tide of crime from reaching the same figures as unemployment?
§ Mr. WhitelawIt is unwise of the hon. Gentleman to raise that matter, because it was his right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Jenkins) who reduced the police service in the country. He did not back it up. He put officers into panda cars, not on the beat. Many of the troubles with crime that we face today stem from the time when the right hon. Member for Hillhead was Home Secretary.
§ Mr. SkinnerYou said he was finished!
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I did not. I know that we are very near Christmas, but the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) must restrain himself a little more.
§ Mr. GreenwayDoes my right hon. Friend agree that unemployed 16 to 18-year-olds would be much better off following courses at school or will be helped by the new training initiative next September? Will he do all that he can to ensure that they use their time at school in pursuit of valuable courses.
§ Mr. WhitelawYes. I welcome that point. I hope the House will understand that when I am attacked I am entitled to reply. My hon. Friend has made a serious point with which I entirely agree. We must do a great deal to ensure that young people are given proper occupations and, indeed, jobs, if we can possibly manage it, because that is a factor in combating crime.
§ Mr. Kilroy-SilkIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in addition to the overwhelming evidence that there is a relationship between unemployment and crime—a relationship to which he himself has drawn attention—there is now mounting evidence that the courts are more likely to impose custodial sentences on offenders who are unemployed? Will he therefore point out to his Cabinet colleagues the human, social and law and order consequences of their economic policies, which are leading to high and unacceptable levels of unemployment?
§ Mr. WhitelawI am as responsible as any other member of the Cabinet for the Government's economic policies and, indeed, for what we are seeking to do. I take my full share of that responsibility. Of course, I understand that problems arise. I do not accept that people are necessarily given custodial sentences because they are unemployed. However, I do accept—I think we must all accept—that what is decided by the judges and magistrates is criticised both ways. Sometimes they are criticised for putting people into prison; at other times they are criticised for keeping people out of prison. I believe that their independence is important. My job as Home Secretary is to provide all the places in the prisons that the judges and the magistrates believe are required for those who have committed crimes.