§ 15. Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people unemployed in the United Kingdom.
§ 17. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of unemployed people in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GummerI refer the hon. Members to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) earlier today.
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§ 18. Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide the latest unemployment figures and percentages for each of the districts of Merseyside.
§ Mr. Tom KingOn 10 May, there was a total of 133,045 unemployed claimants—an unemployment rate of 19.2 per cent. in the Merseyside special development area. The following is the information on 10 May for each of the travel-to-work areas in the Merseyside special development Area for which a percentage rate of unemployment is calculated.
Unemployed claimants Area Number percentage rate Liverpool travel-to-work area 90,101 18.9 Birkenhead travel-to-work area 31,323 19.5 Widnes travel-to-work area 11,621 20.7
§ 21. Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were unemployed in the Southampton travel-to-work area in June 1984; what percentage of the work force this figure represents; and how this percentage compares with the national average.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe latest statistics are for 10 May 1984, when the number of unemployed claimants in the Southampton travel-to-work area was 19,921 and the unemployment rate was 8.9 per cent. The corresponding rate for the United Kingdom was 12.8 per cent.
§ 33. Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present total of people unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of the work force this represents.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 10 May, there were 3,084,457 unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom and the unemployment rate was 12.8 per cent.
§ 35. Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made in reducing the level of unemployment.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Government believe that their economic policies, which are directed at holding down inflation and public spending while promoting efficiency and enterprise, offer the best prospect of sustainable growth in output and jobs, and thus of a reduction in the level of unemployment in the longer term. In the meanwhile, we are committed to helping those worst hit by unemployment through our range of special employment and training measures, at a cost of some £2 billion this year.
§ 36. Mr. Bellinghamasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the up-to-date unemployed figure for King's Lynn.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 10 May, the number of unemployed claimants in the King's Lynn jobcentre area was 3,507.
§ 40. Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people who left the unemployment register in the latest month for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIn the five week period to 10 May 1984 a total of 411,212 unemployed people ceased to claim benefit in the United Kingdom.
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§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people below 25 years of age have been unemployed (a) for more than one year, (b) for more than two years, and (c) for more than three years.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following table gives the information for unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom on 5 April 1984, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available.
Unemployed claimants aged under 25 years Duration in weeks Number Over 52 and up to 104 weeks 206,936 Over 104 and up to 156 weeks 85,264 Over 156 weeks 57,157
§ 60. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the rate of unemployment among school leavers in the city of Leicester; and what percentage increase this represents when compared to May 1979.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkPercentage rates of unemployment cannot be calculated for school leavers due to the absence of the relevant employment information. The available information, on the numbers of school leavers under 18 years of age unemployed in the Leicester jobcentre area for the dates requested, is contained in the table below. The figures are not comparable because of the October 1982 change in the basis of the unemployment count.
Unemployed school leavers aged under 18 No. May 1979 Registered 92 May 1984 Claimants 480
§ 64. Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been out of work for over two years at the latest available date; and how many of them are over 50 years of age.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe latest statistics are for 5 April 1984 and these are given in my reply to the hon. Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Evans) on 5 June 1984 at column155.
§ 65. Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the figure for total unemployed, including school leavers, for the United Kingdom at the latest date.
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July 1983 Males Duration of unemployment in weeks 16 17 18 19 20–24 One or less 1,268 3,498 3,041 3,331 14,794 Over 1 and up to 2 1,241 3,590 3,380 4,240 21,794 Over 2 and up to 4 2,361 6,192 5,525 6,933 28,944 Over 4 and up to 6 2,001 5,420 4,585 4,295 17,248 Over 6 and up to 8 1,628 4,298 4,055 3,672 13,232 Over 8 and up to 13 4,414 9,794 9,034 7,241 28,036 Over 13 and up to 26 11,922 18,768 19,655 15,038 56,925 Over 26 and up to 39 2,172 10,099 14,114 11,967 43,899
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 10 May, there were 3,084,457 unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom. The figure includes school leavers.
§ 67. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been out of work for over one year at the latest available date; and how many of them are over 50 years of age.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 5 April 1984, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over 52 weeks was 1,218,144. Of these, 291,068 were aged 50 years and over.
§ 72. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Berkshire, East, (Mr. MacKay) earlier today.
§ 74. Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently in work in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; and how the figures compare with the highest recorded figure between March 1974 and May 1979.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkIn December 1983, the latest date for which the information is available, the estimated number of people in the employed labour force in the United Kingdom was 23,855,000. The highest recorded figure between March 1974 and June 1979 (Not available for May) was 25,356,000 in June 1979. The figures are seasonally adjusted.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest numbers of unemployed young people in the United Kingdom aged between 16 and 24 years, broken down by age, sex and duration of employment and the comparable figures for July 1983.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following is the available information for unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom in July 1983 and April 1984, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available. Only combined figures for the age group 20–24 years are available.
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Males Duration of unemployment in weeks 16 17 18 19 20–24 Over 39 and up to 52 2,006 11,510 14,263 14,637 38,843 Over 52 and up to 65 0 4,013 9,002 8,936 30,041 Over 65 and up to 78 0 953 5,759 7,171 20,583 Over 78 and up to 104 0 1,249 7,619 11,179 37,433 Over 104 and up to 156 0 0 2,069 7,574 42,941 Over 156 and up to 208 0 0 0 1,984 20,836 Over 208 and up to 260 0 0 0 0 4,601 Over 260 0 0 0 0 1,660> TOTAL MALES 29,013 79,384 102,101 108,198 421,810
Females Duration of unemployment in weeks 16 17 18 19 20–24 One or less 916 2,559 2,492 2,884 11,130 Over 1 and up to 2 1,032 2,840 3,116 3,689 16,742 Over 2 and up to 4 1,677 4,544 4,541 5,710 20,867 Over 4 and up to 6 1,352 3,844 3,294 3,391 11,875 Over 6 and up to 8 1,123 3,175 2,962 2,725 8,697 Over 8 and up to 13 3,059 6,870 6,473 5,159 18,841 Over 13 and up to 26 9,037 13,439 13,591 10,459 37,291 Over 26 and up to 39 1,765 7,800 10,043 8,696 27,552 Over 39 and up to 52 1,589 8,788 10,048 10,835 22,039 Over 52 and up to 65 0 2,769 5,550 5,316 13,321 Over 65 and up to 78 0 550 3,304 3,846 7,453 Over 78 and up to 104 0 884 5,027 6,224 12,658 Over 104 and up to 156 0 0 1,238 3,788 12,527 Over 156 and up to 208 0 0 0 1,152 6,744 Over 208 and up to 260 0 0 0 0 2,012 Over 260 0 0 0 0 987 TOTAL FEMALES 21,550 58,062 71,679 73,874 230,736
April 1984 Duration of unemployment in weeks Males 16 17 18 19 20–24 One or less 1,135 2,831 2,891 3,048 12,204 Over 1 and up to 2 940 2,366 2,270 2,462 9,487 Over 2 and up to 4 1,753 4,252 4,223 4,183 16,839 Over 4 and up to 6 1,563 3,769 4,012 3,934 15,226 Over 6 and up to 8 1,470 3,222 3,680 3,396 13,443 Over 8 and up to 13 3,872 8,522 9,681 9,027 33,847 Over 13 and up to 26 4,801 13,709 18,864 17,551 66,359 Over 26 and up to 39 5,971 14,852 22,150 18,828 51,913 Over 39 and up to 52 79 7,587 11,307 9,396 33,928 Over 52 and up to 65 0 3,615 8,253 7,323 22,864 Over 65 and up to 78 0 1,999 5,143 6,044 19,210 Over 78 and up to 104 0 3,178 9,546 12,683 35,956 Over 104 and up to 156 0 0 3,425 10,699 46,425 Over 156 and up to 208 0 0 0 1,582 28,331 Over 208 and up to 260 0 0 0 0 9,802 Over 260 0 0 0 0 2,751 Total males 21,584 69,902 105,445 110,156 418,585 120W121W
Duration of unemployment in weeks Females 16 17 18 19 20–24 One or less 769 1,991 2,270 2,271 8,282 Over 1 and up to 2 685 1,654 1,687 1,703 6,138 Over 2 and up to 4 1,226 2,973 3,042 2,968 10,741 Over 4 and up to 6 1,138 2,689 3,034 2,805 10,246 Over 6 and up to 8 1,129 2,412 2,577 2,453 8,816 Over 8 and up to 13 3,256 6,756 7,633 6,871 23,786 Over 13 and up to 26 4,094 10,604 14,154 12,786 43,758
Duration of unemployment in weeks Females 16 17 18 19 20–24 Over 26 and up to 39 4,966 11,199 17,516 15,024 34,988 Over 39 and up to 52 60 5,150 7,415 6,112 22,515 Over 52 and up to 65 0 2,540 5,238 4,704 11,289 Over 65 and up to 78 0 1,426 3,533 3,921 7,728 Over 78 and up to 104 0 2,387 6,430 7,810 14,116 Over 104 and up to 156 0 0 2,211 5,923 16,581 Over 156 and up to 208 0 0 0 955 8,874 Over 208 and up to 260 0 0 0 0 3,445 Over 260 0 0 0 0 1,417 Total females 17,323 51,781 76,740 76,306 232,720
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of 16-year-old school leavers secured employment in the borough of Rotherham in 1983; and if he expects the number securing employment to be higher in 1984.
§ Mr. GummerI have no forecast of the figure for this year's leavers. Rotherham careers service records show that 25 per cent. of 16-year-olds who left full-time education in 1983 were in employment on 22 June this year.