HC Deb 26 March 1970 vol 798 cc465-7W
45. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity

ployed in the same months in percentage terms.

Mr. Dell

Following is the information:

Total numbers registered as unemployed and percentage rates of unemployment in Great Britain and in Scotland and the proportion that the registered unemployed in Scotland form of those in Great Britain.

what is the average length of time which individuals remain on the register of wholly unemployed; what proportion for more than six months; and what proof the wholly unemployed is unemployed portion of the wholly unemployed is persons who are over the age of 60 years, prematurely retired, and in receipt of pensions from their former place of work.

Mr. Dell

No detailed information is available about the average duration of time spent by those who come on to the unemployed register. A study on this subject in 1968 revealed that at levels of unemployment similar to those at present being experienced the average expectation of unemployment for new registrants is about eight weeks.

At 12th January, 1970, 27.1 per cent. of those registered as wholly unemployed in Great Britain had been on the registers for more than 26 weeks.

A sample survey on 6th January, 1969 indicated that some 45,000 occupational pensioners between the ages of 60 and 65 years were registered as unemployed. They represented 7.7 per cent. of the total males and females registered as wholly unemployed at that time.