§ Mr. John Townendasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the Government's policy on employment.
§ Mr. Tom KingI have today laid before the House the White Paper "EMPLOYMENT The Challenge for the Nation" (Cmnd. 9474).
This sets out the Government's views on what we all must do to help create jobs and reduce unemployment. The key contribution of Government is to create an economic climate in which enterprise can flourish; it can help to improve the labour market by encouraging better training and more flexibility; and it also provides special help for those worst affected by unemployment. But as the White Paper makes clear, the Government cannot do what the nation will not. It cannot on its own create jobs. Everyone including trade unions and individuals must share the responsibility for responding to change, so that new jobs will be created.