§ 11. Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the rate of unemployment at the latest available date in the Havering travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. GummerThe Department does not calculate percentage rates of unemployment for local areas within London. The rate for Greater London as a whole on 10 November was 9.8 per cent.
§ Mr. SquireI welcome my hon. Friend to the Dispatch Box and thank him for his answer. Is he aware that more school leavers in Havering have found work more quickly than was the case last year? In endorsing what my hon. Friend said a moment ago, and underlining the commitment to employment for 16-year-olds by Christmas, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that that commitment is certain to be met in Havering—indeed, we have an embarrassment of places on the YTS?
§ Mr. GummerIn fact, the situation is a little better than it was. However, that should not blind us to the very real unemployment problem. The Government's policies are the most likely to achieve the fall in unemployment that we want. That is the answer that I would have given to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry), whose question, due for answer earlier today, was withdrawn.