§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has studied the research of Mr. Steve Platt of the Medical Research Council unit for epidemiological studies in psychiatry on unemployment and para-suicide; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenYes, I am aware of the study. As the author acknowledges, it failed to establish a clear causal link between uneployment and attempted or actual suicide. The Government continue to give priority to achieving the real sustainable economic growth that is needed to bring unemployment down.