HC Deb 27 April 1993 vol 223 cc841-2
11. Mr. Raynsford

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in the number of unemployed people in Greater London in the past three years.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

In the Greater London area, seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment rose by 274,800 between March 1990 and March 1993.

Mr. Raynsford

Does the Minister recognise that in the past three years, the number of unemployed people in the London borough of Greenwich has doubled? Does he further recognise that unemployment is a corrosive force, particularly among the young, and that the unemployment level today is destructive of the social fabric? When will action be taken to bring down the level of unemployment at least to that which applied three years ago, and when will it be reduced to the level that existed in 1979?

Mr. Forsyth

The hon. Gentleman's constituency is famous for its observatory for looking into deep space. What an irony that the hon. Gentleman cannot see what is happening under his nose. Unemployment in London has fallen for the first time in three years, and he cannot even bring himself to recognise that fact.

Mr. Harry Greenway

Is the Minister aware that people in London welcome the fall in unemployment but remember in my constituency of Ealing the way in which we lost many jobs during the four years of the loony Labour left which had control there and which, at a stroke, increased local taxation by 65 to 100 per cent? That is how jobs are lost. Labour loses jobs. The Conservative party does not.

Mr. Forsyth

The way to create jobs in Britain is to ensure that we are competitive. That means controlling public expenditure and keeping taxation, including local taxation, down, and my hon. Friend is right to point out how Labour authorities have destroyed jobs the length and breadth of Britain.

Mr. Dobson

The census shows that in greater London, 28 per cent. more people were out of work and looking for jobs than the figure produced by Department of Employment officials. Which figure was right?

Mr. Forsyth

When the figures were going up, the hon. Gentleman was happy to accept them. Only when they are going down does he cast doubt on them. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer"] I will answer. The census figure for people not working includes people who are ill and people who are not working perhaps because they are going on holiday —[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman should not try to compare apples with pears, otherwise he ends up with results that are just bananas.

Mr. Forman

Is the Minister aware that the policies of the Government for employment creation in the Greater London area will have a positive effect and that the co-operation that his Department is encouraging between further education, the training and enterprise councils and private employers can only be for the good? Is he further aware that the hon. Member for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) would not recognise good news if it were staring him in the face?

Mr. Forsyth

My hon. Friend is right. The key to future employment in a competitive world market lies in improving our skills. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for welcoming the innovative measures that the Chancellor announced in his Budget to allow unemployed people to become involved in further education. Education and training are the key and the Government have done more to increase education and training opportunities than any other in Europe.