HC Deb 19 October 1993 vol 230 cc134-5
6. Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of local authorities in West Yorkshire to discuss unemployment.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had a request to meet representatives of the local authorities in West Yorkshire.

Mr. Hinchliffe

Is the Minister aware of the great anger within West Yorkshire among local authorities and the public in general at the way in which the House was conned by the Government over the coal closure programme? Even before the present closure programme the Wakefield district had lost 20,000 mining-related jobs. Bearing in mind that the coalfield areas fund is based—

Madam Speaker

Order. I must have a question from the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Hinchliffe

Bearing in mind that the coalfield areas fund was based on the assumption that 12 pits would be saved, which clearly will not happen, what steps will the Minister and the Government take to generate employment in areas such as Wakefield which have been devastated as a direct result of the Government's policies?

Mr. Forsyth

I am very sorry that the hon. Gentleman did not find time in his question to point out that the Government have made available £75 million to create new jobs where jobs have been lost as a result of colliery closures. I am also surprised that the hon. Gentleman did not find time to refer to the new jobs that have been created in his constituency, such as—

Mr. Skinner

There are none.

Mr. Forsyth

The hon. Gentleman says that there are none, but what about the 420 recruited by the jobcentre for Morrisons in the Wakefield constituency? There are a number which I shall not detain the House by listing. The Labour party must recognise that the only way to have secure employment is by being able to produce goods and services that people wish to buy.

Mr. Batiste

Will my hon. Friend join me in welcoming the fact that unemployment fell last month in every one of the 23 constituencies in West Yorkshire? What assessment has he made of the further prospects for job creation in the area, and the welcome change of policy by the European Community which enables areas such as the city centre of Leeds to qualify for objective 2 status?

Mr. Forsyth

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing out the good news of falling unemployment as businesses take advantage of the economic conditions created by the Government in the teeth of opposition from Labour Members. The news on objective 2 status is welcome and is something for which the Government have campaigned long and hard. I am delighted that at least there is one Conservative Member who is prepared to take a positive and optimistic view of the future.

Mr. Cryer

Will the Minister tell the leaders of local councils in West Yorkshire, including Bradford—who are suffering because of the loss of assisted area status brought about by the Government—when the current level of unemployment in Yorkshire and Humberside of more than 10 per cent. will be down to the level of April 1979, which was 4.1 per cent? When does the Minister expect to equal the record of the last Labour Government?

Mr. Forsyth

I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman has noticed, but unemployment is rising all over Europe and is approaching 18 million. Unemployment is highest among the young. Unemployment is also growing in those countries that have had the "benefit" of socialist Governments.

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