HC Deb 08 February 1983 vol 36 cc861-2
1. Mr. John Spellar

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in unemployment in percentage terms nationally and in the west midlands since May 1979.

The Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Norman Tebbit)

Between May 1979 and January 1983 the numbers of unemployed claimants, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, increased by 138 per cent. in the United Kingdom and by 200 per cent. in the west midlands region.

Mr. Spellar

Does the Secretary of State appreciate the human misery and economic waste represented by those figures? Does he realise that the west midlands is second only to Northern Ireland in the numbers of unemployed to vacancies? Will he persuade his colleagues in the Departments of Trade and Industry to take urgent action to save the car and components industries? Finally, will he repudiate the unconstructive and facile attitude of the Under-Secretary of State for Employment in last night's debate on the west midlands?

Mr. Tebbit

Among the hon. Gentleman's unlikely propositions, the latter is probably the most unlikely of all, and he should know that. He should take more interest in the affairs not least of the motor industry, with which the midlands is associated. I note that the Financial Times reported that the car makers look likely to put up their prices shortly to compensate for the financial impact of strikes which have already caused lost production of more than 50,000 cars this year. The hon. Gentleman should take comfort from the fact that that was written, not about the west midlands, but about France, and that the west midlands is ready to launch extremely successful new models partly financed by Government funds.

Mrs. Knight

Is my right hon. Friend aware that heavy rate demands are causing the closure and contraction of many industries and having a disastrous effect on jobs in the west midlands? Is he further aware that the Labour-controlled West Midlands county council is threatening to put up rates yet again, while shovelling out money in every direction without asking for either receipts or value for the money spent? Will my right hon. Friend point out to the west Midlands county council that its irresponsibility is costing jobs?

Mr. Tebbit

We shall certainly try to do that. My hon. Friend is quite right. I feel strongly about this, because I represent a London constituency, and the Greater London council is playing the same game of putting people, out of work by increasing costs and putting up prices and then belly-aching about the results.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Both those supplementary questions were too long. It is unfair to the rest of the House if hon. Members who are called ask more than one question.

Mr. Varley

In view of the Government's White Paper on public expenditure last week, which predicts that unemployment will rise by a further 280,000 in the next financial year, when does the Secretary of State expect unemployment to start to fall? Bearing in mind the figures that he has given for the west midlands, does he agree that it takes a special kind of incompetence to turn what was once regarded as the heartland of British manufacturing industry into a depressed area?

Mr. Tebbit

I agree. That incompetence was most notably shown during the Labour Government's period of office, when inflation was forced up to record levels and when the motor industry was undermined by policies which led to strikes and disruption of the kind that are now being experienced in France. The right hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that the White Paper makes no forecasts of unemployment.