HC Deb 19 July 1983 vol 46 cc170-1
13. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which industries, professions or services or sections or sectors of such industries and services have employed more persons over the past 10 year period when general unemployment has been rising.

Mr. Gummer

In the past 10 years employment has increased in the non-manual occupations, and in the following sectors: distribution; insurance and other financial services; professional and scientific services; miscellaneous services, including leisure industries.

Employment has also increased in a number of industries within the manufacturing sector, such as electronic goods, computers, radio, food industries, car and metal boxes and industrial engines. With permission I shall publish a list of all the industries concerned in the Official Report.

Mr. Taylor

In view of the Government's clear desire to do something to reduce the appalling unemployment levels, would it not be wise for the Government to review the amount of money that is being poured into industries in structural decline and make the limited resources available to industries with enormous potential, such as leisure and tourism?

Mr. Gummer

Those are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I shall see that my hon. Friend's comments are passed on to him.

Following are the industries:

Employees June 1972 Thousands Employees June 1982 Thousands Increase 1972–82 Thousands Percentage increase 1972–82
Cement 15 16 1 7
Printing, publishing of newspapers Printing, publishing of periodicals 139 141 2 1
Water supply 44 65 21 47
Miscellaneous transport services and storage 126 187 61 48
Wholesale distribution of food and drink 213 223 10 4
Retail distribution of food and drink 603 608 5 1
Other retail distribution 1,205 1,207 2 -
Dealing in coal, oil, builders' materials, grain and agricultural supplies 117 128 11 9
Dealing in other industrial materials and machinery 155 201 46 30
Insurance 256 287 31 12
Banking and bill discounting 266 363 97 37
Other financial institutions 102 134 32 31
Property owning and managing etc. 77 123 46 59
Advertising and market research 30 41 11 35
Other business services 184 302 118 64
Accountancy services 80 101 21 26
Educational services 1,536 1,741 205 13
Legal services 103 121 18 18
Medical and dental services 1,075 1,395 320 30
Research and development services 90 104 14 16
Other professional and scientific services 120 421 301 250
Sport and other recreations 76 133 57 76
Betting and gambling 86 96 10 11
Hotels and other residential establishments 230 272 42 18
Restaurants, cafes, snack bars 158 188 30 19
Public houses 189 248 59 31
Clubs 87 135 48 55
Catering contractors 59 85 26 44
Motor repairers, distributors, garages and filling stations 438 466 28 6
Other services 380 621 241 63
16. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women have been out of work for six months, one year, two years and over two years in the Denton travel-to-work area.

Mr. Gummer

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Mr. Bennett

Why are these figures twice as bad as they were four years ago when the area enjoyed intermediate status? As we have twice the level of unemployment, and as the time that people must endure without jobs has doubled, why cannot intermediate area status be returned to Greater Manchester and Denton?

Mr. Gummer

The hon. Gentleman must accept that the only way to increase the number of jobs in a world recession is to make Britain more competitive. Therefore, we have to ensure that the special help that is given is concentrated on those areas with the highest rates of unemployment rather than being thinly spread, when it is of little use.

The following are the figures for the Denton jobcentre area in April, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available.

Duration of unemployment Male Female
Up to 26 weeks 603 324
Over 26 and up to 52 weeks 330 163
Over 52 and up to 104 weeks 300 100
Over 104 weeks 196 66