HC Deb 31 July 1984 vol 65 cc209-11
7. Mr. Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to encourage recruitment of the over-50s unemployed into full-time employment.

14. Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed; and how many of them are over 50 years of age.

Mr. Tom King

On 5 april, the latest date for which information by age is available, out of a total of 3,107,682 unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, 575,243 were aged 50 or over.

While the Government have a major programme of employment and training measures to help the unemployed, and particularly the long-term unemployed, there are no specific measures exclusively directed to the over-50s. However, jobcentre staff try to encourage employers not to place age restrictions when filling vacancies.

Mr. Evans

Is the Secretary of State aware that the figures that he has just given are appalling, and that those relating to the over-50s are a condemnation of the Government's entire economic and industrial policy? What comment has he to make about the report just issued that British business men have less confidence in the future? If, as is obvious, the right hon. Gentleman has no idea of how to get the the over-50s back into any form of employment, will he recognise the widespread agreement throughout the House that this group, at least, is entitled to the long-term rate of supplementary benefit as a matter of natural justice?

Mr. King

I readily accept the hon. Gentleman's comment that the figures are a matter of serious concern, as they must be to every member of the House. There is no point in denying that. However, while I recognise that we are facing a problem, I have just received the figures for our colleagues in the European Community, and they show that four other countries in the Community have higher unemployment than we do.

The Government are devoting nearly £2.5 billion to programmes in the special employment and training measures to try to tackle the problems. Although there are no easy answers, the Government will do all that they reasonably can within the available resources to solve this serious problem.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Is it not true that the Government have betrayed the over-50s? They are doing nothing to assist the 500,000 people in that age group whom they have put out of work, and who have nothing to look forward to but the next general election and the hope of a change of policy and a change of Government.

Mr. King

As unemployment has recently risen fastest under a Socialist Government in France, I am not sure that a change of policy would necessarily bring with it the hope that the hon. Gentleman suggests. As I said, there are serious problems. However, the hon. Gentleman must have composed his supplementary before listening to my answer, in which I gave clear figures to show the scale of Government assistance—which is available to the over-50s just as it is to other members of the community—under the enterprise allowance and job release schemes and the community programme.

Sir Kenneth Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the over-50s hold their own effectively in this place? Is it not important to encourage, rather than to discourage, the over-50s outside this place to retrain, if necessary, because they have much to give to our society?

Mr. King

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his supplementary question. It would be disgraceful to suggest that the over-50s had no prospects for the future. Many of them, at present unemployed, have prospects of retraining and of making a significant contribution to the life of this country, and they should be encouraged to do so.

Mr. Patrick Thompson

Will my right hon. Friend inform the House how many unemployed people over the age of 50 are taking advantage of the enterprise allowance scheme?

Mr. King

I do not have the exact figures, but a significant number of over-50s are at present involved in starting up their own businesses under the enterprise allowance scheme. A significant number in that age bracket have considerable experience that can be put to very effective use. I hope that the House will encourage them in that regard rather than condemn their prospects as others have done.

Mr. Freeson

Despite the recent small addition to the enterprise allowance budget, is there not a vast waiting list throughout the country because the Government have not made the resources available for the scheme? The Secretary of State has given a phoney answer. People are not getting the money.

Mr. King

I am interested to hear the right hon. Gentleman refer to the small increase that I have just announced—in fact, an 80 per cent. increase—for the enterprise allowance scheme. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman was adding his support for and congratulations to the Government—albeit by a back-handed route—on having launched such a successful scheme.

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