HC Deb 18 May 1976 vol 911 cc482-3W
19. Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

20. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the current level of unemployment.

Mr. Booth

The seasonally adjusted unemployment figures for the past two months have been fairly stable, though the level of unemployment is still very high and our efforts to reduce it must continue. But the reduction of unemployment in the long term depends on our success in fighting inflation and improving our competitive performance in world trade.

30. Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide, for April 1976, figures for unemployment in the private and public sectors comparable with those given in his reply of 13th April to the hon. Member for Blaby.—[Official Report, 13th April, column 444.]

Mr. Golding

Calculated on the same imprecise basis, the percentages for April were 6.5 in the private sector and 2.5 in the public sector.

34. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a study into the long-term increase in the unemployment level associated with "full employment" and its relation to the desirable length of "working week" and "working life".

Mr. Harold Walker

The Government are fully participating in studies being carried out by the OECD and EEC and, consistent with its general economic aims, is also giving careful consideration to a wide range of suggestions, including the matters referred to by my hon. Friend for improving the employment situation.