HC Deb 07 May 1993 vol 224 cc256-7W
Mr. Ray Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the overall average period of service in one episode of employment;

(2) how many (a) men and (b) women work in (i) manufacturing industry and (ii) the retail trades; what percentage of the work force these figures represent; and what is the average length of time spent by each sex in each category of employment.

Mr. McLoughlin

The information available for both questions, from the labour force survey, is given in the tables:

Persons in employment by sex and industry. Autumn 1992 Great Britain (not seasonally adjusted) Numbers of persons in employment (thousands)
All industries Manufacturing industry Retail trade
Men 13,779 3,754 1,114
Women 11,188 1,462 1,699
All persons 24,967 5,217 2,813
As a proportion of all in employment (per cent.)
Men 55.2 15.0 4.5
Women 44.8 5.6 6.8
All persons 100.0 20.6 11.3
Average length of time in current employment (years)
Men 9 9 7
Women 6 7 5
All persons 8 9 6

Ms Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people were quarterly attenders in each month since January 1981; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 7 May 1993:

As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency. the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the number of unemployed people who were quarterly attenders in each month since January 1981. This is something which falls within the responsibilities she has delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

Unfortunately, I am only able to provide the information you requested from April 1986 as data prior to that date can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
November 291,077 260,594 232,315 150,536 99,451 66,259 46,915
December 293,316 261,563 227,964 147,294 97,366 65,195 46,409
January 290,536 257,897 222,289 144,090 95,625 64,214 44,964
February 282,125 255,867 212,927 138,753 91,665 61,725 43,242
March 281,817 258,871 212,094 136,626 98,756 60,617 42,845