HC Deb 27 February 1963 vol 672 c174W
110. Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that on 21st February his Department announced that the unemployed figure had risen by 63,257 to 878,356, and on 22nd February an announcement was made that the figure had actually risen to 932,939; what was the reason for this discrepancy; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Hare

There was no discrepancy and no correction. On 21st February my Department issued the usual announcement about the numbers unemployed on 11th February. This said, quite correctly, that the number "registered as unemployed in Great Britain" was 878,356; it also gave the separate figure for Northern Ireland of 54,583—a figure supplied by the Ministry of Labour and National Insurance for that country. The announcement was in the form which has been used for very many years.