HC Deb 06 February 1975 vol 885 cc599-604W
Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the percentage of the labour force in each standard region including Northern Ireland, (b) the percentage of all unemployed in each standard region, and (c) the percentage of long-term unemployed in each standard region—defined as unemployed for six months or more—for the last year available, and for each year since 1964.

Mr. John Fraser

The table in cols.601–2 shows the available information. The proportions of the civilian labour force are for June each year and the most recent figures are for June 1973. Proportions of the total unemployed and proportions of those unemployed for more than 26 weeks are shown for October each year. Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency, the normal analyses by length of time unemployed are not available for January 1975 and the most recent figures are for October 1974.

Mr. Richard Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of persons registered unemployed for six months or more as a percentage of (a) all unemployed and (b) all employees for each standard region, including Northern Ireland, for the latest year available, and for each year since 1964.

Mr. John Fraser

Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency, the normal quarterly figures analysed by length of time unemployed are not available for January 1975 and the most recent statistics are for October 1974. The information for October each year is given in cols.603–4.

PERCENTAGE REGIONAL SHARES OF THE LABOUR FORCE AND THE UNEMPLOYED
The figures in column (a) relate to the civilian labour force, those in column (b) to the total unemployed and those in column (c) to those unemployed for more than 26 weeks.
(per cent.)
1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
(a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) (a)(1) (b) (c)
(A) (B)
South East 33.3 22.4 16.0 33.4 21.7 14.6 33.4 22.7 17.7 33.6 21.4 16.7 33.6 33.4 21.1 15.0
East Anglia 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.6 2.0 2.0 2.7 2.0 1.9 2.8 2.8 2.0 1.9
South West 5.8 6.4 5.9 5.9 7.0 6.9 5.9 5.8 6.1 5.9 5.9 6.0 5.9 5.9 6.4 6.3
West Midlands 9.7 4.8 3.8 9.8 5.8 4.1 9.7 8.2 7.5 9.7 7.5 7.3 9.7 9.7 7.1 6.6
East Midlands 5.9 3.7 4.1 6.0 4.3 4.4 6.1 4.2 4.6 6.0 4.6 5.0 6.0 6.0 4.6 5.5
Yorkshire and Humberside 8.7 6.5 5.9 8.7 6.7 6.0 8.6 7.6 6.7 8.6 9.0 9.0 8.6 8.6 9.2 9.5
North West 12.6 13.3 13.3 12.6 12.2 11.4 12.5 12.7 11.7 12.5 12.2 11.4 12.4 12.5 12.5 11.4
North 5.5 9.5 11.4 5.5 9.1 11.2 5.5 9.5 10.6 5.5 10.9 12.3 5.5 5.5 10.6 13.6
Wales 4.3 7.9 8.3 4.3 8.0 9.0 4.3 7.0 8.2 4.3 6.7 7.7 4.2 4.2 6.9 7.8
Scotland 9.1 17.3 21.6 9.0 15.3 20.1 9.0 14.1 16.7 9.0 13.5 15.6 9.0 9.1 13.5 15.0
Northern Ireland 2.3 8.1 9.7 2.3 7.5 10.0 2.3 6.4 8.1 2.3 6.2 7.0 2.3 2.3 6.1 7.3

(per cent.)
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974(3)
(a) (b) (c) (a)(2) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c) (b) (c)
(A) (B)
South East 33.3 20.1 14.5 33.3 32.8 18.7 13.5 32.8 18.4 13.7 32.6 18.7 15.0 19.4 15.2
East Anglia 2.8 2.2 2.0 2.8 2.8 2.4 2.3 2.9 1.9 1.9 2.9 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.1
South West 6.0 6.1 5.9 6.1 6.2 5.6 5.5 6.3 5.2 5.0 6.4 5.7 5.5 7.0 6.2
West Midlands 9.7 7.7 6.9 9.7 9.8 8.9 8.1 9.7 9.1 9.1 9.7 7.7 7.7 (8.1) (7.9)
(4) (4)
East Midlands 6.1 5.1 6.2 6.0 6.1 4.9 5.8 6.1 4.8 5.4 6.2 4.7 5.4 5.4 5.6
Yorkshire and Humberside 8.6 9.2 9.8 8.5 8.5 9.7 10.3 8.5 9.4 10.0 8.5 8.9 9.2 8.6 8.8
North West 12.3 13.0 12.2 12.3 12.3 14.5 13.8 12.2 16.0 16.4 12.1 16.0 16.6 15.8 16.4
North 5.6 9.7 12.6 5.6 5.6 9.3 10.9 5.6 9.5 10.6 5.6 10.0 11.1 9.6 11.1
Wales 4.3 5.9 7.0 4.3 4.5 5.6 6.0 4.5 5.6 5.6 4.5 5.9 5.8 6.2 6.3
Scotland 9.1 15.2 16.5 9.0 9.1 15.4 18.0 8.1 15.7 17.3 9.1 15.2 16.5 12.9 14.9
Northern Ireland 2.3 5.7 6.4 2.3 2.3 4.9 5.7 2.3 4.5 4.9 2.3 5.2 5.3 4.8 5.5
(1) For 1969 column (a), the figures at (B) include improved information about the regional distribution of employees in the distributive trades.
(2) For columns (a), the estimates for 1971 (A) and earlier dates include estimates of employees based on counts of National Insurance Cards From 1971 (B) they include estimates of employees in employment from the annual censuses of employment.
(3) The figures for 1974 relate to revised regions which differ slightly from those previously in use.
(4) Because of industrial action at some offices precise information about the numbers unemployed in the West Midlands is not available and the proportions of unemployed have been estimated.

UNEMPLOYED FOR OVER 26 WEEKS AS A PERCENTAGE (a) ALL UNEMPLOYED AND (b) ALL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE UNEMPLOYED
(per cent.)
October 1965 October 1966 October 1967 October 1968 October 1969
(a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b)
South East 19.3 0.2 14.7 0.2 21.5 0.3 23.1 0.4 20.9 0.3
East Anglia 20.1 0.3 27.3 0.5 28.5 0.5 28.5 0.5
South West 24.9 0.4 21.4 0.4 29.1 0.7 30.0 0.8 28.7 0.8
West Midlands 21.5 0.1 15.5 0.2 25.4 0.5 28.4 0.5 27.6 0.5
East Midlands 29.5 0.3 22.4 0.3 30.5 0.5 32.2 0.6 35.1 0.7
Yorkshire and Humberside 24.3 0.3 19.6 0.3 24.1 0.5 29.4 0.7 30.3 0.8
North West 27.1 0.4 20.5 0.3 25.6 0.6 27.7 0.7 26.7 0.7
North 32.4 0.8 26.9 0.7 30.8 1.3 33.4 1.6 37.5 1.7
Wales 28.6 0.8 24.7 0.8 32.4 1.3 33.8 1.3 33.2 1.3
Scotland 33.8 0.9 28.9 0.8 32.8 1.2 34.0 1.2 32.6 1.2
Northern Ireland 32.6 1.8 29.0 1.7 35.4 2.5 33.3 2.3 35.2 2.4

(per cent.)
October 1970 October 1971 October 1972 October 1973 October 1974(1)
(a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b)
South East 21.6 0.3 21.2 0.5 27.5 0.6 31.9 0.4 25.3 0.4
East Anglia 27.7 0.6 28.0 0.9 36.6 0.9 38.8 0.6 31.2 0.7
South West 29.0 0.8 28.4 1.0 35.5 1.1 38.1 0.8 28.9 0.9
West Midlands 26.8 0.5 26.6 0.9 37.2 1.3 39.8 0.7 Not available—see note (2)
East Midlands 36.7 0.8 34.3 1.0 41.7 1.2 44.8 0.8 34.0 0.8
Yorkshire and Humberside 32.1 0.9 31.2 1.3 39.5 1.6 41.2 1.0 33.3 0.9
North West 28.2 0.8 27.9 1.2 37.9 1.8 41.1 1.3 33.4 1.2
North 39.0 1.7 34.5 2.1 41.2 2.5 44.0 1.8 37.4 1.8
Wales 35.5 1.3 31.8 1.5 37.0 1.7 38.6 1.2 32.6 1.3
Scotland 32.5 1.4 34.3 2.1 40.7 2.5 43.2 1.7 37.2 1.5
Northern Ireland 33.4 2.3 34.3 2.8 40.2 3.0 40.5 2.2 37.0 2.3
(1) The figures for October 1974 relate to revised regions which differ slightly from those previously in use.
(2) Because of industrial action at some offices information about the numbers unemployed in the West Midlands is not available.

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