§ 18. Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his forecasts for employment as a result of the pre-Budget report. [145810]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonIn line with the convention adopted by previous Administrations, the Government do not publish forecasts for employment and unemployment. However, the 2000 pre-Budget report restated the Government's aim of employment opportunity for all—the modern definition of full employment—and its ambition is that by the end of the decade there will be higher proportion of people in employment than ever before.