§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will make a statement on the creation of new jobs in Hertfordshire;
(2) if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in Hertfordshire.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe Government are committed to maintaining 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 in Hertfordshire and elsewhere. In the meantime we are spending over £2 billion this year on a range of employment and training measures to help the unemployed.
In Hertfordshire nearly 1,300 are being helped by the job release and young workers schemes, and in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, nearly 1,400 people are benefiting from the community programme.