§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the recent unemployment figures on Merseyside:
(2) what steps are currently being taken by Her Majesty's Government to reduce the present level of unemployment on Merseyside.
§ Mr. Jim LesterOn 10 January there were 89,934 people registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development areas—an unemployment rate of 11.8 per cent.
We recognise that this level is unacceptably high, particularly among the young, and the Government are determined to do what they can to bring unemployment down. Merseyside is one of the areas which should benefit from the Government's decision to concentrate regional assistance where it is most needed. In addition, Merseyside does, of course, continue to benefit from the youth opportunities programme and special temporary employment programme operated by the Manpower Services Commission.
In the longer term the prospects for reducing unemployment on Merseyside are tied to the prospects of the country as a whole. The great need is to create 126W the economic growth which will bring about more real jobs. This is dependent ultimately upon industry and unions working in harmony and bargaining responsibly over pay and conditions so that the goods and services they produce can compete successfully with those from overseas.