Unemployment (Hansard, 1 May 1986)

1. Mr. Ron Brown
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about unemployment in Northern Ireland.

§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Dr. Rhodes Boyson)
At 6 March 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 124,403 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland. The unemployment rate was 21.4 per cent. I announced, in March, a £20 million package of enterprise and unemployment measures, which is expected to create up to 3,500 extra jobs in its first year of operation.

Mr. Brown
Was not John De Lorean responsible for making many people unemployed in Northern Ireland? Will the Minister take steps to ensure that that individual is extradited to this country and placed on trial? Will he contact the American President and put that view to him, remembering, after the sordid Libyan affair, that one good turn deserves another?

§ Dr. Boyson
That was an interesting question, and one that I had not expected. Last July, when there was a debate on the De Lorean affair, we said that the Government would do all that they could to bring De Lorean to trial if he ever touched down in the country. I take note of what the hon. Gentlman says, and undoubtedly other Ministers and Members will have heard it as well.

§ Mr. Robert Atkins
Would not unemployment be assisted far more greatly in Northern Ireland if the example set by companies such as Shorts, and Harland and Wolff, which do so much to provide jobs for people in the Province and exports to the world, were emulated by others in the Province?

§ Dr. Boyson
I entirely recently agree with my hon. Friend. Last year Shorts brought out the Tucano plane, recently there were sales of aircraft to British Midland Airways Ltd., and the contract for the auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel went to Harland and Wolff last week. We trust that other firms in Northern Ireland, with the same enterprise and backing of the work force, will gain such contracts here, in Northern Ireland, and throughout the world.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell
Let us see whether the Minister expects this question. In considering the factors that are likely to have a favourable effect on employment in the Province, will the Government not overlook the importance of transport action between the Province and the mainland, particularly the urgency of ensuring that use is made of the roll-on/roll-off facilities for transport in the port of Warrenpoint?

§ Dr. Boyson
I know that the right hon. Gentleman is rightly concerned about Warrenpoint and its facilities. I also know that, in so far as we are on the periphery of the European market, we require all the transportation if we are to sell goods, particularly heavy goods, in the question of that market. I take totally what the right hon. Gentleman has said.

§ Mr. Skinner
The hon. Gentleman will never make Secretary of State for Education and Science with grammar like that.

§ Dr. Boyson
I am glad that I have at least one supporter.
I have another point to make. At 2 pm today, unfortunately for Northern Ireland, Rothmans announced that it is pulling out of everything but cigar manufacturing there, which means 800 more unemployed. I know that that will be deplored throughout the House.

§ Mr. Michael Brown
On that point, does my hon. Friend agree that that makes so important the representations that we made to the Treasury about the level of tobacco taxation, because we foresaw what eventually could occur as a result of the increase in tobacco duty?

§ Dr. Boyson
My hon. Friend's point was mentioned in the press releases issued by Rothmans and by the Department. There has been a fall in the demand for tobacco because of the social and health consequences of smoking. There has also been an increase of imports into the United Kingdom market.

§ Mr. Mallon
Can the Minister give any assessment of the damage that has been done to employment prospects for the people of the north of Ireland by the recent form of Fascism centering on a new approach—a Bible in one hand and a petrol bomb in the other?

§ Dr. Boyson
There is no doubt that the hon. Gentleman's point is highly relevant to employment, and even more so to unemployment in Northern Ireland. Anyone considering investing there or expanding his factories would be worried about the political climate. The best thing that could be done for industrial advancement in Northern Ireland would be to achieve a political settlement, especially in relation to the hon. Gentleman's point, so that people can come to the Province knowing that there will be continuity of production.

§ Mr. Archer
Given the further likely effects on unemployment of the Rothmans' decision, remembering that the Anglo-Irish accord has been operating for nearly six months, and that one of the topics promised for consideration by the conference was the economic and social development of areas that have suffered most severely, what measures have resulted from the accord? If the answer is none, when may the unemployed expect to see such measures?

§ Dr. Boyson
After the accord, America promised extra help and investment to provide jobs on both sides of the border, especially in difficult areas. Conversations have continued since the accord, but the Americans have not yet reached a final decision. If America agreed to help industrial advance on both sides of the border, it would be of great help.