§ 18. Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were registered as unemployed in the Leicester travel-to-work area at the last count; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonAt 13 May, the number of people registered as unemployed in the Leicester travel-to-work area was 24,744.
I am, of course, very concerned at the current high level of unemployment in Leicester. However, jobs can be created only by firms which make profits, and firms can make profits only if they are able to satisfy consumers at home and abroad. What the Government can do is to help create favourable conditions in which firms can operate.
The Government's policies are therefore aimed at developing a soundly based economy. We have already made progress towards this end. Inflation, for instance, has been reduced to 9.4 per cent., with a continuing fall in prospect. From now on the more British firms there are which can offer goods and services at home and abroad which people want to buy, at prices they are prepared to pay, the more new jobs we shall see both in Leicester and throughout the country.