Employment Policy Priorities

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Education and Employment – in the House of Commons am 1:46 pm ar 21 Chwefror 1996.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Michael Meacher Michael Meacher Shadow Minister (Education) 1:46, 21 Chwefror 1996

How can the Secretary of State boast about her employment policies when Britain now ranks 20th out of 24 OECD countries in terms of job creation since 1979, when civilian employment has fallen since 1979, whereas in Germany, the Netherlands and Australia it has risen by more than 30 per cent., and when unemployment here is still twice as high as it was in 1979 and the only jobs being created are overwhelmingly insecure, short term and part time? When will the Secretary of State admit that the fall in unemployment in the past three years has nothing whatsoever to do with the Government's deregulated labour market and everything to do with the fact that the Government were forced, kicking and screaming, out of the exchange rate mechanism in 1992?