HC Deb 15 November 1977 vol 939 cc176-8W
17. Mr. Loyden

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further steps he is taking to reduce the number of unemployed.

Mr. Booth

I intend to continue to work to bring about a return to full employment. This will mean selling more abroad, getting a bigger share of the home market for British industry and creating the wealth to make it possible to provide jobs in the service sector.

21. Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Golding

At 13th October, 1,518,336 people were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom. The last two months have each shown a fall in the numbers of unemployed, mainly as a result of school leavers finding jobs. The November figures should show a further fall in the number of unemployed school leavers, but future overall levels of unemployment will depend on our success in reducing the rate of inflation and strengthening the balance of payments.

23. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the United Kingdom were out of work at the most recent count; and how this figure compares with the figure in the same month in 1973.

Mr. Golding

At 13th October, 1,518,336 people were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom compared with 533,822 in October 1973. The last two months have each shown a fall in the numbers of unemployed, mainly as a result of school leavers finding jobs. The November figures should show a further fall in the number of unemployed school leavers, but future overall levels of unemployment will depend on our success in reducing the rate of inflation and strengthening the balance of payments.

31. Mr. Forman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the record of his Department in combating rising unemployment.

Mr. Booth

Although I am most concerned about the present level of unemployment I am satisfied that this level would have been higher but for the efforts of my Department, and that it is doing all it can in the circumstances to reduce it.

33. Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom to come down below 1 million.

Mr. Golding

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said during his statement on 26th October, the timing and scale of movements in the rate of unemployment movements have proved extremely difficult to predict. If we can continue to break the inflationary spiral it would enable us to get unemployment moving regularly down in the years ahead. If, however, the scale of inflation begins to rise again we shall have slow growth and more unemployment. The chances of an earlier reduction in unemployment will be much improved if inflation can be brought under control.

44. Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current unemployment situation.

Mr. Golding

At 13th October, 1,456,622 people were registered as unemployed in Great Britain. The last two months have each shown a fall in the numbers of unemployed, mainly as a result of school leavers finding jobs. The November figures should show a further fall in the number of unemployed school leavers, but future overall levels of unemployment will depend on our success in selling our products at home and abroad.