HC Deb 24 June 1976 vol 913 c618W
Mrs. Castle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the levels of unemployment for 1977, 1978 and 1979 visualised in the central case set out in Command Paper No. 6393; and how far he now expects these targets to be reached.

Mr. Joel Barnett

The level of unemployment visualised in the central case set out in Cmnd. 6393 was of the order of 700,000 by the end of 1979. The central case shown there indicates the allocation of resources in 1979 associated with achieving this level; it does not provide a path for 1977 and 1978. As to how far I now expect this projection to be reached, I would refer my right hon. Friend to my answer to her question about what revised estimates I have made.