HC Deb 21 February 1996 vol 272 cc348-50
2. Mr. Janner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she has had with other Government Departments about co-ordination on employment issues since the abolition of the Employment Department. [14677]

The Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mrs. Gillian Shephard)

The merged Department for Education and Employment discusses employment issues with other Departments where appropriate, not least the policies which have been successful in reducing unemployment in the United Kingdom to one of the lowest levels of any major European country.

Mr. Janner

Is the Minister aware that many people take the view that the Government's abolition of the Department of Employment—and with it the Select Committee on Employment, which will not now be in a position to consider the Government's response on training and enterprise councils—has something to do with trying to take the spotlight off employment issues and the existing level of unemployment, which is still well over 3 million in real terms? [Interruption.] They can wait until they get the next report from the Select Committee. Will the Secretary of State, who took a great interest in employment issues in her previous incarnation and was sometimes even constructive about them, at least admit that the five Departments among which the issues have been spread should meet to discuss them and try to formulate some policy on them?

Mrs. Shephard

There are many regular contacts between relevant Departments—Trade and Industry, Social Security, Environment and the Treasury—and the Central Statistical Office, at both official and ministerial level. It is disappointing that the hon. and learned Gentleman should not only continue to peddle very curious unemployment statistics, but insist that what matters to unemployed people are the Whitehall committees which exist to examine their plight. I should have thought that what mattered was the rate of reduction in unemployment. It is truly extraordinary for the hon. and learned Gentleman, who has close links with employment activities both within and outside the House, to focus on the machinery of government and not on the fact that, on a claimant count, unemployment fell to 7.9 per cent. last month.

Mr. Congdon

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, in terms of dealing with unemployment and creating more jobs, having the right macro-economic framework in this country is far more important than the organisational structures of government? Have not the Government been uniquely successful in reducing unemployment? Would that not all be put at risk if they were foolish enough to adopt the minimum wage and the social chapter, as the Labour party advocates?

Mrs. Shephard

The Government have indeed achieved an excellent record in reducing unemployment, and it is the envy of some of our major European competitor economies. As my hon. Friend says, we put that down to the pursuit of strong economic policies, the reduction of inflation and the rejection of a national minimum wage and of the provisions of the social chapter.

Mr. Ian McCartney

The Opposition Front-Bench team is concerned that the new arrangements for the Select Committee will be insufficient to meet the necessity for thorough investigation of the incompetent Ministers across the Floor from us. An example of that must be the announcement that £500,000-worth of equipment has been lost by the right hon. Lady's Department in the past year while the Health and Safety Executive has managed to lose £800,000 worth of equipment in the past three years. Given the cuts in the budget, has there been an inquiry into those losses at the Department, and have the police been involved to try to find out what is going on? It seems that crime is the only growth industry in employment.

Mrs. Shephard

The hon. Gentleman has quoted well from what may turn out to be the silliest press release of the year. With regard to his question about the Health and Safety Executive, I refer him to the Department of the Environment. If the hon. Gentleman is so expert in preventing crime and theft from Departments, he should offer his services to Scotland Yard.

Mr. Riddick

Despite the fact that the Department of Employment has been abolished and merged with the Department for Education, will my right hon. Friend ensure that the British people are fully aware of the fact that unemployment in France is 3 million and increasing and unemployment in Germany is 4 million and increasing, while this country compares favourably with unemployment at 2.2 million and decreasing?

Mrs. Shephard

The Government have a strong record on employment and unemployment, particularly when compared with that of some of our European neighbours. For that reason, the Government have produced a booklet—which they have helpfully sent to all hon. Members—dispelling some of the myths that Labour Members try to convey. Our employment and unemployment records have been widely praised by other major European economies. For that reason, we have had the booklet translated into French and German the better to convey our message.