§ 27. Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what immediate plans he has to improve employment prospects in the Preston travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. GummerUnemployment will begin to come down as British industry becomes more competitive and world trading conditions improve. The Government cannot guarantee a recovery or the creation of new jobs, but it can help to establish the right environment in which firms can prosper by producing goods and services that will sell. Greater efficiency and enterprise will lead to the new jobs we all want to see in Preston and elsewhere. We have already made a great deal of progress: inflation is at its lowest level since 1968, production has risen and productivity has reached new record levels. Meanwhile we are helping those hardest hit through our considerable range of special employment and training measures.