§ 12. Mr. HaynesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the unemployment figures for 1979–80 and 1989–90.
§ Mr. HowardOn the consistent seasonally adjusted basis, United Kingdom unemployment averaged 1,072,500 in the financial year 1979–80 compared with 1,702,200 in 1989–90.
§ Mr. HaynesDoes not the Secretary of State feel ashamed of himself? Is he aware that a Secretary of State not far from him is on his way, according to the newspapers? The whole House will agree that it is time he went.
§ Mr. HowardI hope that the hon. Gentleman, who has long experience of these matters and who has a particular contribution to make, will at least have a word with his right hon. and hon. Friends on the Front Bench and tell them how damaging their proposals for a minimum wage would be. The hon. Gentleman knows that Barbara Castle pointed out in 1969 how devastating such proposals would be. Why cannot he have a word with his hon. Friends and get them to see sense?