§ 43. Sir C. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the recent National Institute 299W for Economic and Social Research forecast of 630,000 unemployed by the end of 1969, an increase of 100,000 over 1968; and a further rise of 4,000 unemployed each month in 1970 and what new steps he is taking to prevent the fulfilment of these forecasts.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI regard the Institute's forecast as unduly pessimistic. It assumes a growth rate in the economy from the first half of this year to the first half of next year of little more than 2 per cent. As I explained in my Budget statement, I expect this figure to be nearly 3 per cent., and it could be significantly higher if exports do especially well.