§ 5. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest unemployment rate; and what the figure was in December 1992. [19611]
§ Mr. AncramThe seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March 1995 was 11.9 per cent., which compares with 14 per cent. in December 1992.
§ Mr. MarshallI am sure that everyone will welcome that reduction of one seventh in the number of people unemployed since December 1992, which is due to this Government's policies. However, does my hon. Friend accept that that is nothing compared with the peace dividend to which the people of Northern Ireland can look forward? Will not peace lead to substantial inward investment in the Province?
§ Mr. AncramI am grateful to my hon. Friend, who makes a good point. We all welcome the consistent reduction in the unemployment figures which has taken 971 place in Northern Ireland. Of course they remain too high for any of us to be complacent, and we want them to be reduced. He makes an important point when he says that peace will itself bring a jobs dividend. I would go further and say that peace, underpinned by a political settlement that brought political stability, would increase inward investment even faster, and would benefit the jobs position in Northern Ireland significantly.