HC Deb 28 January 1982 vol 16 cc995-6
11. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently unemployed in Northern Ireland; and what were the comparable figures for 1980 and 1979.

Mr. Adam Butler

At 14 January 1982, 113, 337 people were registered as unemployed. In January 1980 and 1979 the comparable figures were 66, 182 and 64, 055 respectively.

Mr. Dubs

In the light of those depressing figures and the news of redundancies at De Lorean and Mackie's, does the Minister see any prospect of a reduction of unemployment in Northern Ireland during the life of the Government?

Mr. Butler

Yes.

Mr. Soley

Are not those figures a devastating indictment of the Government's policy? Given that the Government recently put £90 million into Northern Ireland, claiming that it would be a great boost when it simply put right the cuts made in previous years, will the Minister tell his colleagues in the Cabinet that if it is of advantage to boost public expenditure in Northern Ireland, the same applies to the rest of the United Kingdom?

Mr. Butler

It is correct that £90 million beyond what was previously planned has been made available to Northern Ireland in the next financial year, but it came out of the total resources available to the nation. That money will be put to good use in a number of ways, and it is estimated that it will provide some 9, 000 training and job opportunities beyond what there would otherwise have been. I hope that the House will welcome that.

Mr. McNamara

In view of the controversy about investment in De Lorean and the number of jobs created there and elsewhere, would it not be in the interests of the House if the right hon. Gentleman's Department produced a budget statement showing the amount of investment in De Lorean and the savings that it achieved in unemployment and other social and welfare benefits for employees at De Lorean and elsewhere and also showing the cost per head of population for the damage that has been or may have been done as a result of terrorism in the Province, so that we may have a better picture of the effectiveness or otherwise of that policy?

Mr. Butler

I shall be happy to answer a question on the first point if the hon. Gentleman puts one down.