Smith's up and down the country. It is entitled On the Dole -That is one small indication that, despite the official 'optimism' expressed after last month's drop in the unemployment figures, WORS has yet to come. The celebrated drop of 80,000 goes right against the wend or ine past two years.
Since January 1975 the dole fig ures have risen from 600,000 to 1.3 million (seasonally adjusted, that is). Occasional declines in this or that month have been more than made up for in the months which have followed. There is every indication that this will be the case with September's figures.
Drop The drop is largely due to a small growth in industrial output during the early months of this yeargrowth which takes some time to have an effect in terms of increasing employment. But this rate of inctease nas now sackened, conscuwently so will job opportunities.
Government agencies themselves admit that the prospects are bleak. A recent report of the Manpower Services Commission stated mat even on the most optimistic assessment unemployment will remain "historically high' until 1979 at least.
The same judgement was made by the National Institute of Economic and Scientific Kesearen. predicted in September that unemployment will continue to rise until March next year. It estimates that even by the end of 1977 there will still be 1.2 million unemployed.
These figures were produced before the recent increase lending rate, which will further cut back industrial investment and job opportunities; and before the Healey measures expected in the wake of the IMF loan, which through higher taxes or more cuts - most likely can only make the dole queues longer.
As with the cuts, the Callaghan/ Isted below:
NAME OF FIRM SOCK ANCOX Courtauld Standard Telephone & Cables (ITT) international Computers Scottish Aviation Leyland (Triumph)
K Group (shoes)
Tube Investments Wiggins Teape (stationery)
British Steel Corporation National Bus Company Walls There is only one criterion used in selecting which paperbacks adorn the book stalls of railwav stations or supermarkets - they have to be best sellers. That's why these book stalls are packed with the latest stimulants from Harold Robbins, Agatha Christie or Len Deighton. Last month a rather different type of book arrived for mass display, and it is to be found in Sainsbury's and W.H.
Unemployment Benefits. For which, apparently, there is great demand.
Healey policies or denderately cred ting mass unemployment hit hardest at those who already suffer most. * The Youth. Despite the September drop in youth unemployment 12 per cent plus school this year are still unemployed. The report ot tne Services Commission says that this trend will continue; it expects 'sharp increases in unemployment among young people'. * Women. Unemployment has parliculany nit women workers since the Labour Party's return to ofice. While unemployment among doubled between June 1914 and June yo Ine rate for increased three and a half times and is still increasing. * Immigrants. Again the Manpower Services Commission testifies that ine already deploraole situation in immigrant communities can only get worse. It forecasts 'sharp increases in unemployment antony MinoritIes All the reports and aside, tnere is a weller evidence pointing to the sackings which are planned. The accompanying table gives some indication ol what is in store - and this excludes the huge impact of the cuts being Women WHICH The Civil ano rUDIC Association, for instance, that 140,000 jobs will go as a result of this aspect of the Labour Government's policies. The union stresses that again it will be women and the DanK under 25s who will be particularly hit.
The message Clear month's drop in the number of those out of work is deceptive. It provides no excuses for the Labour Governments policies and no excuses tor not stepping up the fight against those policies. A Guide to Manpower building a national response 'ethnic NOT TO MOSH BRECHTON 1974 Workers in struggle were given pride of place at the Manchester Conference. (Inset): John Nettleton from Courtaulds spoke on to the impending redundancies in Liverpool Skelmersdale and other Courtauld sites. RIGHT TO WORK •00
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