HC Deb 02 July 1985 vol 82 c142W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current employment prospects on Merseyside.

Mr. Alan Clark

The Government are committed to maintaing their economic policies, which are directed at holding down inflation and public borrowing while encouraging enterprise, flexibility and competitiveness in industry and the labour market. That is the only way to generate lasting jobs on Merseyside and elsewhere. In the meantime, we are spending over £2 billion this year on a range of employment and training measures, two of which — the youth training scheme and the community programme — are to be considerably expanded. Over 20,000 people on Merseyside are currently benefiting from these measures.