HC Deb 07 June 1988 vol 134 cc702-4
4. Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what region of the United Kingdom has the highest number of long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

12. Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the reduction in the number of long-term unemployed people over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. Norman Fowler)

Over the past 12 months there has been a record fall in long-term unemployment of 266,000. The region with the highest number of long-term unemployed in April 1988 was the south-east, with 206,500 people, although that is 65,700 lower than April 1987. The new employment training programme, which comes into operation in September, aims to achieve further reductions in long-term unemployment.

Mr. Janman

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the fact that the region with the highest number of long-term unemployed is the south-east shows that the north-south divide is a complete and utter myth? Does he agree that those figures show that, in the booming economy of the south-east, many people are working and claiming and many are not working even though jobs are available, which gives a truer picture of the number of people who are really unemployed?

Mr. Fowler

Another way of considering the number of long-term unemployed around the country is to look at percentage figures as opposed to numbers. Where my hon. Friend is unquestionably right and the Opposition characteristically wrong is that in the south-east and around the country there is an increasing number of unfilled vacancies. One of the aims of the new employment training programme is to give long-term unemployed people the skills to take up those vacancies so that long-term unemployment decreases further.

Mr. Brown

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the reduction in the figure for the number of long-term unemployed is quite remarkable? Will he say how many people under 25 fall into that category and how the figure compares with five years ago?

Mr. Fowler

One of the biggest falls among long-term unemployed people has been among the under-25s. In the year to April 1988, there was a fall of about 34 per cent. Long-term unemployment among the under 25s is at its lowest level for five years.

Rev. Martin Smyth

Will the Minister acknowledge—he mentioned percentages—that in all probability Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of long-term unemployed people? Will he say what hope there is for the peripheral areas of the United Kingdom when the single European market comes into force in 1992, given that the south-east now has the highest number of long-term unemployed people?

Mr. Fowler

The hon. Gentleman is correct to say that Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of long-term unemployed. The general policies to combat unemployment obviously apply to Northern Ireland and we hope, through the new training programme and other such measures, to provide skills for the long-term unemployed in Northern Ireland just as everywhere else in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Barry Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman pledge not to overlook the real worries of the tens of thousands of textile and steel workers in all the regions of the north who lost their jobs early in 1980–81? What real jobs is he planning to provide for the men who lost their job at that time who are now aged nearly 50 and have no prospect of work? Can we have less complacency and more action?

Mr. Fowler

There is no complacency about unemployment or the long-term unemployed. The hon. Gentleman should recognise that new vacancies are now becoming evident in the economy. I hope that both sides of the House will unite behind our policy to provide good training to assist people to acquire skills so that they can take those jobs that are now becoming available. To obtain consensus on that would he a giant step forward.

Mr. Baldry

Does my hon. Friend agree that everyone—every employer and every college—should now be involved in a skills crusade, because unless we can produce people with skills we shall not be able to continue to achieve the 21 per cent. reduction in the number of long-term unemployed that we have achieved this year? Does he further agree that such a crusade is not helped by the Opposition continuing to rubbish every programme that is brought forward to improve adult training?

Mr. Fowler

I agree with my hon. Friend. We estimate that there are over 700,000 vacancies in the economy generally. We need training to help long-term unemployed people to take those jobs and opportunities. We now have a historic opportunity to reduce long-term unemployment in Britain even further and I hope that the country can agree to take that opportunity.