§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy to combat the very high level of unemployment.
Earl FerrersHer Majesty's Government's whole economic strategy is directed towards creating conditions for a sustainable improvement in performance which will enhance employment prospects. To achieve this, we must improve our competitiveness in world markets, which in turn depends on increasing productivity and holding down costs, especially wage costs. This will generate real, permanent jobs.
In the meantime, nearly £2 billion in total this year will be spent on a range of employment and training measures to assist those worst affected by unemployment.