Labour Statistics

HC Deb 26 February 1991 vol 186 cc785-7

9. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about trends in unemployment in Barnet since 1983.

Mr. Forth

In June 1983 unemployment in the Barnet local authority district was 9,477; in June 1987, when my hon. Friend was elected to this House it was 9,633; but in January 1991 it was down to 7,144.

Mr. Marshall

Does my hon. Friend agree that that dramatic improvement is due to the fact that, since 1983, there has been an increase of 500,000 in the number of people in jobs in Greater London? Does he agree that that illustrates how the social market economy creates jobs? Does he further agree that minimum wage legislation would destroy all those jobs?

Mr. Forth

Yes. I add to what my hon. Friend has rightly said by pointing out that there are now 100,000 fewer people out of work in Greater London than there were in 1987. My hon. Friend is right to point out that some of the proposals that we believe may be emanating from the Opposition Benches—although we can never he quite sure—such as a minimum wage, levies, taxes and compulsion, would all conspire to increase the level of unemployment. The Opposition would be disgraced if they admitted to that.

10. Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on current levels of unemployment and the projections of future unemployment made by economic forecasters.

Mr. Howard

In January 1991 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 1,888,500. In line with the practice of previous Governments, we do not forecast the level of unemployment.

Ms. Short

Will the Secretary of State admit that unemployment is rising rapidly—particularly in the south-east, where people face the tragedy of losing their job and then losing their house, which is a terrible experience for any family? Is the Secretary of State aware that many people in this country still have not recovered from the enormous growth in unemployment in the early 1980s? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman now apologise for the incompetence of his Government which has damaged the British economy and so many people's lives so badly?

Mr. Howard

I should have thought that the hon. Lady would point out that, in her constituency of Birmingham, Ladywood, unemployment was 10,319 when she was elected in June 1983; it was 8,892 in June 1987; last month it had come down to 5,940.

Mr. Ashby

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that, in 1983, unemployment in my constituency was 16 per cent. whereas today it is 4.6 per cent. and that the number of jobs becoming available is increasing?

Mr. Howard

My hon. Friend's experience is characteristic of what has happened to the United Kingdom economy: we have 2 million more jobs now than when Labour left office in 1979.

Mr. McLeish

Does the Secretary of State agree that the £120 million announced for the unemployed is woefully inadequate when measured against the forecast of 2.5 million unemployed this year—the fastest rising unemployment rate in Europe—and a cut of £360 million in the ET budget? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman intend to introduce a temporary work programme for the unemployed?

Mr. Howard

It is no use Opposition spokesmen coming to the Dispatch Box and complaining about funding for training when the shadow Chancellor consistently refuses to make training one of the two immediate priorities on which Labour would increase spending. Opposition Members should have a word with the shadow Chancellor.

Mr. Simon Hughes

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Points of order take up time. I have not heard anything out of order. What is it?

Mr. Hughes

There have been five questions about unemployment. In the answers to four of those, Ministers gave figures. Why were no figures at all given in reply to the question about inner London? Is that in order?

Mr. Speaker

I am not responsible for the answers that are given.

Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

The Secretary of State is now to be informed for the third time that the sector of the unemployed who need urgent help are those with special needs. He must be aware that training and enterprise councils are reducing the numbers of places for such people as a result of substantial cuts in their funding. Will he now reply to the question that was put to him from the Labour Front Bench by stating that the funds lost as a result of those cuts will be restored following the announcement that he made today?

Mr. Howard

I repeat that, as a result of their inclusion in the aim group, people with disabilities have higher priority for employment training than they have ever had. I hope very much that the additional £120 million that I announced today will help training and enterprise councils to make more provision for those with special needs.

Mrs. Maureen Hicks

Many unemployed people are hopeful that they will gain places in training schemes, or will secure jobs, as a result of attendance at the very successful Government-sponsored job clubs. Those who attend these clubs testify to their success. Will the Secretary of State consider providing, in addition to the benefits that are already available, assistance with the travelling expenses of those attending interviews?

Mr. Howard

I shall certainly consider my hon. Friend's request. She is quite right to draw attention to the success of job clubs. We plan to create up to 100,000 extra opportunities in job clubs and through the job interview guarantee scheme next year.