HC Deb 12 February 1981 vol 998 c376W
10. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he intends taking to reduce unemployment in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of people in Northern Ireland is unemployed, compared with the percentage in the rest of the United Kingdom, as at January 1981.

Mr. Adam Butler

On 15 January 1981, 17.2 percent. of the working population were registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland compared to 9.8 per cent. in Great Britain.

I refer hon. Members to the statement which I made in the House on 15 January. I made it clear then that the Government were already taking positive steps to reduce unemployment through the promotion of jobs and to assist the unemployed in the short term through our special employment programmes, but that the real solution lay in the determined pursuit of national policies which will provide the necessary sound industrial base for the Province's economy.