§ 13. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of women of working age, 145 between 15 an 60 years, are currently in employment; and how this figure compares with the figure in December 1978.
§ Mr. AlisonInformation in the precise form requested is not available. However, I estimate that in Great Britain in June 1981 the number of women aged 16–59 years in employment represented about 56 per cent. of the total female population aged 16–59 years. The corresponding percentage for June 1978 was about 59 per cent.
§ Mr. HooleyDoes the hon. Gentleman agree that the figures, although limited, show that unemployment among women is much more serious than is revealed by the registered unemployment figures because many women do not register? Does the hon. Gentleman agree also that the activity rate is a much better indication than plain unemployment figures? Is he aware that unemployment among women is extremely serious because for many families their wages are vital to the standard of living of their families?
§ Mr. AlisonI deeply regret unnecessary unemployment among women. The figures show that the fall in employment among women is rather less deep than the corresponding percentages for men for the same two years. The latest figures cause us to estimate that about 250,000 women are not registered as unemployed. That is about the same as it was between 1970 and 1979..
§ Mr. StokesShould not some working women whose husbands are in well-paid jobs consider giving up their jobs so that unemployed fathers can take them up?
§ Mr. MaxtonThe Prime Minister?
§ Mr. AlisonMy hon. Friend has made a point which in the human dimension is perfectly valid and plausible, but it must be left to every individual family to decide for itself.