Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the statement in the Labour Party manifesto that "our goals are…high and stable levels of employment", what are those levels at the most recent date for which figures are available, and how much higher is "high".
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyAccording to the Labour Force Survey, 26 million people are in employment in Great Britain. Employment in the UK over the last 20 years has varied considerably with the economic cycle, with employment falling by almost 1½ million in the last recession. The Department of Social Security estimates that around 6 million people of working age are currently on benefits and without work. The Government aim to increase employment on a sustainable basis through stability in monetary and fiscal policy, improving the skills of the workforce, and helping those excluded from the labour market to move from welfare to work.