HC Deb 20 November 1984 vol 68 cc131-3
1. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment both nationally and regionally; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Tom King)

At 11 October the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,225,000. I will, with permission, publish the regional figures in the Official Report.

Mr. Skinner

Is the Minister aware that when all the fiddled figures are added on to those there are now more than 4 million people struggling to survive in the dole queue? Is it not obscene that, at a time when all these people are without a job, more than 350 Members of Parliament, mainly Tory, SDP and Liberal, are doing moonlighting jobs on the side? Is it not high time that, if workers can be put in legal straitjackets, a law was passed to insist that Members of Parliament have only one job apiece?

Mr. King

I am never quite sure what hon. Members are trying to prove by trying to argue about the figures. I have said clearly from the Dispatch Box that whether the figure is 4 million or 3,250,000, the present level of unemployment is far too high. I hope that every hon. Member will accept that, so that we can start off from the same point.

Our concern is to ensure that we create the maximum number of new jobs, and I know that the hon. Gentleman will have been pleased to see that last week I announced that, for the first time for some months, there was an increase in the numbers employed in manufacturing industry — in September the number increased by 13,000. As to the number of people at work, I know that every hon. Member will share the hon. Gentleman's satisfaction at the increased number of people going back to work in Bolsover and will be pleased that today some 1,785 of his constituents crossed the picket line.

Mrs. Jill Knight

Has any study been made into, or has my right hon. Friend any knowledge of, the number of people who have been rendered unemployed by a strike, either by themselves or by other people? Is this number not significant, and should it not have publicity?

Mr. King

My hon. Friend will be aware that the recent disappointing figures, compared with the earlier improvement in the employment situation towards the middle of last year, have been due to two factors. One was the rise in interest rates, and I know that my hon. Friend will share my pleasure in noting that, according to the Barclay's figure, interest rates are now about 2.25 per cent. below the July level. The other factor has undoubtedly been the miners' strike. It is worth remembering that the dispute was originally about 20,000 miners' jobs and that all those who wish to work are now effectively guaranteed employment. My information as to the impact of the strike is that 10,000 people have lost their jobs in ancillary industries as a direct result of the strike and a further 20,000 have lost jobs in associated industries. That has been the effect of the miners' strike on unemployment.

Mr. Lofthouse

Is the Minister aware that the unemployment figures include ex-miners cheated out of their rightful unemployment pay because the redundancy terms which they were persuaded to take—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is very wide of the question. There is a later question on the miners' strike. The hon. Gentleman must confine his question to unemployment nationally.

Mr. Lofthouse

With respect, Sir, the question is about unemployment, which includes miners. Is the Minister aware that unemployed miners are being denied their rightful unemployment pay because they were persuaded to take redundancy pay, but the date of expiry of their notice was after the beginning of the strike? Is he aware that his colleague the Secretary of State for Energy has now recognised that and is putting the matter right in relation to the miners' redundancy pay scheme—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is very wide of the question.

Mr. King

I am not sure what the hon. Gentleman's complaint is, as he says that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy is putting the matter right. If the hon. Gentleman is concerned about unemployment and about the situation in his constituency, however, I hope he will now realise that the best way to assure future employment is to encourage his members to settle on the terms agreed so that we can begin to see much better employment prospects.

Several hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Lofthouse

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

I shall take the point of order afterwards.

Mr. John Browne

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that in the past year more than 250,000 people have taken up jobs that have been created in the British economy? In view of the severe recession in the world economy, does he agree that those figures reflect very well on the Government's enterprise policies?

Mr. King

Yes, I am pleased to confirm that this is the only country in Europe to have a significant increase in jobs in the past year and that 250,000 more people are at work than at this time last year. If we can get an end to the present extremely damaging industrial dispute I believe that that, with the fall in interest rates, which is highly significant for the general activity level of British industry, will bring very encouraging prospects for further jobs.

Mr. Prescott

Is the Secretary of State aware that in his 12 months of office he has presided over an increase in unemployment of more than 3,000 per week? Can he give an estimate of the likely level of unemployment in October 1985, in the fourth year of economic recovery, or must we ask Lord Young? Does he accept that the promised £1.5 billion cuts in income tax will produce only 25 per cent. of the jobs that public investment would produce? That being so, what advice will he give the Chancellor?

Mr. King

First, I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new responsibilities. He makes an unfortunate comparison because although I accept that unemployment has risen during the year in which I have had the privilege of holding this responsibility, and I regard that as very serious indeed, unemployment has not risen so fast as it did when the former leader of the Labour party, the right hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Foot) was the Secretary of State for Employment. Nevertheless, I shall try to do even better in terms of employment prospects. Meanwhile, I hope that the hon. Gentleman, instead of giving unequivocal support to the miners' dispute, as he chose to do from one platform, will observe the canniness of the present leader of the Labour party and seek an end to the dispute so that there can be the prospect of more jobs.

Following is the information:

Unemployment—unadjusted including school leavers 11 October 1984
Region Unemployed—Thousands
South East 767.9
(Greater London) (392.6)
East Anglia 76.8
South West 200.5
West Midlands 353.3
East Midlands 198.0
Yorkshire and Humberside 301.8
North West 445.9
North 237.5
Wales 178.6
Scotland 342.9
Northern Ireland 122.0