§ Mr. Holtasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the prospects for employment next winter; and what estimate he has made of the likely scale of unemployment then.
§ Mr. MaudlingThere are indications that activity and business confidence are already improving, and I expect these trends to continue throughout the period covered by the Question. Precise forecasting of unemployment is not possible, and in any case the normal seasonal forces will no doubt be operating to raise unemployment in the winter months. I am expecting that the improvement in the state of trade will be reflected in the unemployment figures over a period.