§ 9. Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment in how many parliamentary constituencies unemployment fell by 40 per cent. or more between August 1984 and August 1988.
§ Mr. NichollsBetween August 1984 and August 1988 unemployment fell by 40 per cent. or more in 136 parliamentary constituencies in Great Britain.
I shall arrange for details of these constituencies to be placed in the Official Report.
§ Mr. RookerThe Minister can save himself the time and trouble, because those figures are already there. They show that, of those 136 constituencies, 130 are constituencies of hon. Members who represent the Conservative party, and six—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. Rooker—and six are the constituencies of hon. Members representing the Labour party. When will the constituents of my hon. Friends benefit from what has 160 been the obvious targeting of Government grants, Government decisions, investment and planning appeals and applications, which have clearly brought about such a disproportionate, unfair fall in unemployment between the constituencies of the two major parties in this House? Clearly that has not happened by accident. We want a fair share.
§ Mr. NichollsUnlike so many of his hon. Friends, the hon. Gentleman has a great deal of credit on this side of the House for the usual quality of his contributions. I am afraid that on this occasion he has let himself down sadly. The hon. Gentleman knows that the only targeting that has been done on this matter—I acknowledge it at once—is the extremely skilful way in which the hon. Gentleman has targeted his question. The hon. Gentleman is talking about the reduction in the unemployed, expressed as a percentage of itself. Obviously, if unemployment is low, any reduction in the number of unemployed people would have a correspondingly greater effect in percentage terms. If he considers the fall in unemployment over the past five years and looks at the figures that have been produced in The Independent, he will find that, on average, for each Labour constituency the reduction was 1,516, compared with 1,304 on average for each Conservative constituency.
§ Sir Bernard BraineWill my hon. Friend confirm that in my constituency of Castle Point the reduction of unemployment in the period mentioned in the question was 52.5 per cent. and that that is clearly a reflection of growing confidence under this Government among employers and of good practices by local authorities?
§ Mr. NichollsMy right hon. Friend makes the point exactly. Many ingredients underpin these figures, but if an area has an extrmely supportive Member of Parliament, a local ethic that praises employment and a local authority that supports employment training measures, it is more likely to do better than those that do not. Even on the basis that the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) chooses to present his question, there are many Labour constituencies that also have figures of which he would approve.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIs it not true that many of the firms that have been set up in constituencies in the north-west, certainly in the Workington constituency, are labour-intensive only because of cuts in regional support? Is it not further true that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer finally decides to go into reverse gear and pursue a policy of credit-restriction-induced deflation of the economy, we shall then really be able to measure how successful the Government have been in relation to small firms in areas such as my own?
§ Mr. NichollsI am afraid that the hon. Gentleman has a fine line in economic illiteracy, but it will not do. Even on the basis on which his hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) chooses to compile the figures, we find that in Workington the rate of unemployment has been reduced by 40.1 per cent.
§ Mr. RoweWill my hon. Friend comment on the fact that the Rochester-on-Medway city council has held the rate steady for 12 years, except for two years, when it 161 reduced it, that unemployment has fallen dramatically and that that is a direct consequence of good housekeeping by a Conservative Administration?
§ Mr. NichollsAgain, my hon. Friend has made the point exactly. In his area, employers who are obviously trying to improve their businesses, or employers who are thinking of moving into the area, will find that there is a benign climate. It is a great pity that such a climate is not found more commonly in constituencies that are represented by Opposition Members.
§ Mr. MeacherIs the Minister not aware that the unemployment that the Tories created in the early 1980s led to the loss of 2 million full-time jobs, whereas the reduction in unemployment since 1986 has involved almost exclusively part-time jobs? Will he confirm the Government's figures, that in the last two and a half years the number of full-time jobs has risen by only 56,000? Does
162 that not show that the Government's much-trumpeted reduction in unemployment is as unbalanced as it is deceitful?
Parliamentary constituencies with a fall in unemployment of more than 40 per cent. between August 1984 and August 1988 Unemployed claimants Parliamentary constituencies August 1984 August 1988 Change Percentage change Wantage 2,391 949 -1,442 -60.3 Horsham 2,180 881 -1,299 -59.6 Henley 2,020 819 -1,201 -59.5 Corby 5,914 2,444 -3,470 -58.7 Basingstoke 3,250 1,369 -1,881 -57.9 Tunbridge Wells 2,519 1,069 -1,450 -57.6 Witney 2,646 1,126 -1,520 -57.5 North West Hampshire 2,361 1,046 -1,315 -55.7 Reading West 3,334 1,496 -1,838 -55.1 North West Surrey 2,356 1,058 -1,298 -55.1 Aylesbury 2,741 1,248 -1,493 -54.5 Reigate 2,023 927 -1,096 -54.2 Chertsey and Walton 2,099 963 -1,136 -54.1 Mole Valley 1,726 796 -930 -53.9 West Hertfordshire 3,594 1,670 -1,924 -53.5 Stevenage 4,059 1,896 -2,163 -53.3 Saffron Walden 2,382 1,116 -1,266 -53.2 Gillingham 5,479 2,568 -2,911 -53.1 Mid Sussex 1,991 941 -1,050 -52.7 Newbury 2,650 1,257 -1,393 -52.6 Castle Point 3,430 1,630 -1,800 -52.5 Wealden 1,907 908 -999 -52.4 South West Bedfordshire 3,766 1,795 -1,971 -52.3 Medway 5,264 2,517 -2,747 -52.2 Guildford 2,097 1,008 -1,089 -51.9 Spelthorne 2,328 1,121 -1,207 -51.9 Brentwood and Ongar 2,438 1,175 -1,263 -51.8 Braintree 3,283 1,583 -1,700 -51.8 South West Surrey 1,661 804 -857 -51.6 Crawley 2,485 1,207 -1,278 -51.4 Chichester 2,278 1,107 -1,171 -51.4 Reading East 3,923 1,908 -2,015 -51.4 East Surrey 1,625 791 -834 -51.3 Maidstone 3,525 1,731 -1,794 -50.9 Tonbridge and Malling 2,678 1,318 -1,360 -50.8 Mid Kent 4,837 2,391 -2,446 -50.6 Esher 1,563 774 -789 -50.5 Chesham and Amersham 1,742 868 -874 -50.2 Rochford 2,828 1,413 -1,415 -50.0 Billericay 3,882 1,941 -1,941 -50.0 Oxford West and Abingdon 3,152 1,580 -1,572 -49.9 North Hertfordshire 3,573 1,792 -1,781 -49.9 Milton Keynes 6,750 3,423 -3,327 -49.3 Southend West 3,590 1,823 -1,767 -49.2 South West Hertfordshire 2,530 1,285 -1,245 49.2 Woking 2,387 1,213 -1,174 -49.2 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,612 1,330 -1,282 -49.1 Welwyn Hatfield 3,123 1,595 -1,528 -48.9 Banbury 3,263 1,668 -1,595 -48.9 Sevenoaks 2,416 1,241 -1,175 -48.6 Basildon 6,712 3,453 -3,259 -48.6 Wokingham 1,970 1,025 -945 48.0
§ Mr. NichollsNo, it does not. It shows that the hon. Gentleman is fixed on the proposition that if he repeats nonsense often enough it becomes the truth. The fall in unemployment during the last 12 months has amounted to 504,000. It is now running at 7.7 per cent. and it has been down for 27 months running. If the hon. Gentleman cares to look at international comparisons he will find— [Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman may not have asked for it, but he is going to get it. In terms of international comparisons, this country is doing extremely well. The trouble with the hon. Gentleman is that he is so locked into the past that he thinks the only reputable job is one that is absolutely full time. Patterns of employment in this day and age are far more varied than that.
Following are the details:
| Unemployed claimants | ||||
| Parliamentary constituencies | August 1984 | August 1988 | Change | Percentage change |
| Harlow | 4,426 | 2,304 | -2,122 | -47.9 |
| East Berkshire | 3,196 | 1,666 | -1,530 | -47.9 |
| South Colchester and Maldon | 4,240 | 2,214 | -2,026 | -47.8 |
| Hornchurch | 3,047 | 1,592 | -1,455 | -47.8 |
| Aldershot | 2,971 | 1,571 | -1,400 | -47.1 |
| Hertford and Stortford | 2,093 | 1,111 | -982 | -46.9 |
| Christchurch | 2,254 | 1,197 | -1,057 | -46.9 |
| Kettering | 3,308 | 1,759 | -1,549 | -46.8 |
| Arundel | 2,786 | 1,488 | -1,298 | -46.6 |
| Dagenham | 4,311 | 2,305 | -2,006 | -46.5 |
| Buckingham | 2,561 | 1,375 | -1,186 | -46.3 |
| Surbiton | 1,554 | 840 | -714 | -46.0 |
| Wycombe | 2,932 | 1,586 | -1,346 | -45.9 |
| Mid Norfolk | 2,989 | 1,622 | -1,367 | -45.7 |
| Ruislip-Norwood | 1,779 | 966 | -813 | -45.7 |
| Poole | 3,702 | 2,011 | -1,691 | -45.7 |
| Northampton North | 4,789 | 2,609 | -2,180 | -45.5 |
| South East Cambridgeshire | 1,892 | 1,032 | -860 | -45.5 |
| Harborough | 2,566 | 1,404 | -1,162 | -45.3 |
| West Gloucestershire | 4,609 | 2,531 | -2,078 | -45.1 |
| Slough | 4,629 | 2,544 | -2,085 | -45.0 |
| North Dorset | 2,181 | 1,199 | -982 | -45.0 |
| North Bedfordshire | 4,573 | 2,515 | -2,058 | -45.0 |
| Huntingdon | 3,511 | 1,938 | -1,573 | -44.8 |
| Southend East | 4,675 | 2,586 | -2,089 | -44.7 |
| Upminster | 3,029 | 1,678 | -1,351 | -44.6 |
| Hastings and Rye | 4,259 | 2,361 | -1,898 | -44.6 |
| St. Albans | 2,462 | 1,368 | -1,094 | -44.4 |
| Stratford-on-Avon | 3,314 | 1,844 | -1,470 | -44.4 |
| Mid Bedfordshire | 2,756 | 1,536 | -1,220 | -44.3 |
| Ludlow | 3,722 | 2,076 | -1,646 | -44.2 |
| Bosworth | 3,557 | 1,987 | -1,570 | -44.1 |
| South West Cambridgeshire | 2,500 | 1,397 | -1,103 | -44.1 |
| Beaconsfield | 1,700 | 951 | -749 | -44.1 |
| Cirencester and Tewkesbury | 2,976 | 1,666 | -1,310 | -44.0 |
| Wimbledon | 2,894 | 1,622 | -1,272 | -44.0 |
| Bournemouth East | 4,951 | 2,784 | -2,167 | -43.8 |
| Epsom and Ewell | 1,901 | 1,071 | -830 | -43.7 |
| South Suffolk | 3,281 | 1,850 | -1,431 | -43.6 |
| Bournemouth West | 3,896 | 2,197 | -1,699 | -43.6 |
| Stamford and Spalding | 3,325 | 1,878 | -1,447 | -43.5 |
| Oxford East | 4,025 | 2,282 | -1,743 | -43.3 |
| Blaby | 2,915 | 1,653 | -1,262 | -43.3 |
| North Colchester | 4,129 | 2,345 | -1,784 | -43.2 |
| Uxbridge | 2,625 | 1,494 | -1,131 | -43.1 |
| Leominster | 3,192 | 1,817 | -1,375 | -43.1 |
| Thurrock | 5,822 | 3,343 | -2,479 | -42.6 |
| Carshalton and Wallington | 2,899 | 1,665 | -1,234 | -42.6 |
| The City of London and West | 5,423 | 3,120 | -2,303 | -42.5 |
| Worcester | 5,030 | 2,894 | -2,136 | -42.5 |
| Wellingborough | 4,111 | 2,369 | -1,742 | -42.4 |
| Worthing | 2,539 | 1,469 | -1,070 | -42.1 |
| Hertsmere | 2,595 | 1,502 | -1,093 | -42.1 |
| Croydon Central | 3,609 | 2,091 | -1,518 | -42.1 |
| Devizes | 3,310 | 1,921 | -1,389 | -42.0 |
| Rutland and Melton | 3,473 | 2,016 | -1,457 | -42.0 |
| Central Suffolk | 3,097 | 1,798 | -1,299 | -41.9 |
| Salisbury | 3,208 | 1,865 | -1,343 | -41.9 |
| Cambridge | 3,554 | 2,067 | -1,487 | -41.8 |
| Winchester | 2,057 | 1,197 | -860 | -41.8 |
| Daventry | 2,713 | 1,579 | -1,134 | -41.8 |
| Sutton and Cheam | 2,029 | 1,183 | -846 | -41.7 |
| Aberavon | 4,762 | 2,780 | -1,982 | -41.6 |
| Cheadle | 2,921 | 1,707 | -1,214 | -41.6 |
| Romford | 2,776 | 1,623 | -1,153 | -41.5 |
| Shoreham | 2,053 | 1,202 | -851 | -41.5 |
| Suffolk Coastal | 2,452 | 1,437 | -1,015 | -41.4 |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | 3,608 | 2,116 | -1,492 | -41.4 |
| South West Norfolk | 3,844 | 2,259 | -1,585 | -41.2 |
| Ashford | 3,396 | 1,996 | -1,400 | -41.2 |
| Chelmsford | 3,035 | 1,786 | -1,249 | -41.2 |
| North Luton | 4,332 | 2,558 | -1,774 | -41.0 |
| Watford | 3,235 | 1,911 | -1,324 | -40.9 |
| Croydon South | 2,023 | 1,197 | -826 | -40.8 |
| Congleton | 3,322 | 1,968 | -1,354 | -40.8 |
| Stroud | 3,743 | 2,223 | -1,520 | -40.6 |
| Unemployed claimants | ||||
| Parliamentary constituencies | August 1984 | August 1988 | Change | Percentage change |
| Havant | 4,918 | 2,928 | -1,990 | -40.5 |
| Bexhill and Battle | 1,774 | 1,057 | -717 | -40.4 |
| The Wrekin | 9,589 | 5,724 | -3,865 | -40.3 |
| Gravesham | 4,984 | 2,976 | -2,008 | -40.3 |
| Wyre Forest | 5,135 | 3,067 | -2,068 | -40.3 |
| Alyn and Deeside | 4,694 | 2,811 | -1,883 | -40.1 |
| East Hampshire | 2,419 | 1,449 | -970 | -40.1 |
| Bishop Auckland | 7,166 | 4,299 | -2,867 | -40.0 |