HC Deb 06 July 1982 vol 27 cc135-7
5. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of long-term unemployed at the latest available date.

Mr. Tebbit

At 15 April the number of people registered as unemployed for over 52 weeks in the United Kingdom was 994,395.

Mr. Dormand

Is that not the highest-ever figure of people who have been unemployed for more than 12 months? Does the Secretary of State agree that the number of long-term unemployed is one of the most significant indicators to the state of the economy? Is he aware that the MSC has forecast that that number will be over 1 million for the next three years? How much evidence do he and the Government require to make fundamental changes in their policies?

Mr. Tebbit

We should require evidence that better policies were available, and that evidence is in extremely short supply. If the hon. Gentleman does not believe me, I suggest that he takes a short trip to France to see what has already resulted from the implementation of policies similar to those advocated by the Labour Party and the SDP. Fortunately, that Government have now seen some of the difficulties and their policies are converging with ours.

As to long-term unemployment, I hope that the hon. Member will use all his influence with his friends to persuade them to support the scheme being discussed within the MSC for expansion of help for about 100,000—[Interruption.] When hon. Members shout and interrupt they only cut other hon. Members out of Question Time. They should persuade their friends to support the scheme designed to help another 100,000 of the long-term unemployed back into jobs.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

Does the Secretary of State agree that unemployment and the long-term unemployed are the major issues now facing the country? Therefore, is it not important that we should debate these matters fully in the House? If so, does he agree that it is deplorable that during the debate on unemployment last night only six hon. Members were ever in attendance on the Labour Benches, and that none of the Labour Members voted in the Division last night?

Mr. Tebbit

That is probably accounted for by the fact that they had not expected to hear anything new—

Mr. Wrigglesworth

From the Government Front Bench?

Mr. Tebbit

—from the party that proposed the debate or from those who spoke from the Liberal and SDP Benches.

The problem of the long-term unemployed is a major one. That is why the Chancellor offered to make available an extra £150 million to help ease that problem, and that is why we have to regain competitiveness to win back lost markets, not least at home.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, after being unemployed for some time, many people wish to take on work within the community, often without pay? However, they are inhibited from doing so by fear of losing benefit. Will my right hon. Friend undertake to review the regulations so that those who genuinely want to help the community while seeking work will be more freely able to do so?

Mr. Tebbit

That was one of the principal objectives of the scheme put forward by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. We are always anxious to do that, but we are sometimes frustrated by those who believe, rightly or wrongly, that it would damage voluntary institutions, and others who believe that it will lead to widespread undercutting of regular wages. Both those beliefs are misconceived.

Mr. Radice

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that unemployment in France is much lower than it is in the United Kingdom and has stabilised, whereas here, since the Conservative Party came to power, long-term unemployment has risen by two and a half times? Is it not time that the Government increased the community enterprise programme, which accounts for only 30,000 places, when the long-term unemployed number 1 million?

Mr. Tebbit

Inflation in France is 14 per cent., it has just devalued its currency for the second time, it has a massive problem of a balance of payments deficit, and it is imposing freezes on prices and incomes. I do not think that its Government can be said to be holding to the policies on which they were elected, policies that are similar to those of the hon. Gentleman and his party.