UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26672, 5 March 1952, Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN

Former Minister’s Prediction

LONDON, March 3. Mr Alfred Robens, the former Minister of Labour, predicted in tfie Housa of Commons to-day that unemployment in Britain would reach 1,000,000 persons before the end of this year. He was initiating the debate on manpower and productivity. Mr Robens said that unemployment figures hid risen from 263.000 in August to 378,000 in January. These figures were not alarming in themselves, but the trend was alarming. The Government cute were not a solution to the problem. They were an expedient.' "There is only one way in which we can get out of the difficulties with which we are faced, that is by hard work, increased productivity, and • great expansion of industry,” he said. Mr Robens said that the Government wopld have to tgke very vigorous action. The Labour Party would “wholeheartedly co-operate to urge workers to go on with consultation* with managements, and do all we possibly can to help tfie productivity drive that is so essential if thi* country is to survive.” Full employment was essential if increased productivity were to be achieved by new techniques end methods. He added: "ft is the responsibility of the Government to create the kind of atmosphere in which British industry ana workers can get down to the job of bringing Britain right back to the top.” The Minister of Labour (Sir Welter Monckton). replying, said he was the last person ever to say that unemployment was the only spur to further effort “I want to see £ high, stable level of employment," he said. The . Minister repeated tfie Conservative.pledges that only persuasion would be used in achieving the labour switchover to rearmament and export jobs. He admitted that unemployment £ as tbe l ncr Pase. but at the same time there was a shortage of skilled , h . t employment figure* for February he expected, he higher than for January. ’ ”