§ 25. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of unemployed.
§ 29. Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will state the percentage increase in the level of unemployment between February 1974 and the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. GoldingBetween February 1974 and April 1978, the numbers registered as unemployed in Great Britain, seasonally adjusted and excluding school-leavers, increased by 141.3 per cent.
§ 40. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a study into the long-term solution to unemployment in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingThe Government are convinced that the long-term solution to unemployment for the United Kingdom lies mainly in expanding world trade and increasing our share of domestic and overseas markets. They seek to achieve 65W these objectives in international negotiations and by promoting our international competitiveness.
In addition, my Department and the Manpower Services Commission keep under constant review the employment difficulties of particular groups. I do not, therefore, see the need for a further study.
§ 41. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what, in the light of the latest figures for unemployment, is his estimate of the trend in unemployment over the next year.
§ Mr. GoldingThe levelling-off of unemployment since September is encouraging, though the rate of decline is too slow and there is as yet no clear sign that the trend will continue. Much depends on the volume of world trade and on our ability to maintain and improve our share of it.