§ 13. Mr. John Evansasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to introduce new fiscal policies to stimulate employment in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe Government are already pursuing, and intend to maintain, the responsible and balanced fiscal, monetary and supply side policies that offer the best prospect for sustainable job opportunities.
§ Mr. EvansWill the Chief Secretary take this opportunity to admit that the Chancellor's suggestion that unemployment could be stimulated by cutting unemployment benefit was ill-thought out and has now been withdrawn?
§ Mr. ReesMy right hon. Friend chose his words with extreme care. If the hon. Gentleman studies them he will see that they do not bear the construction that he has put on them.
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorWill my right hon. and learned Friend consider allowing the unemployed to take part-time jobs without having to sacrifice what they earn from those jobs in order to continue to claim unemployment benefit?
§ Mr. ReesMy hon. Friend will have noticed that one step towards alleviating that position was the considerable increase in the threshold for the basic rate of tax.