HC Deb 13 December 1977 vol 941 cc181-3W
37. Mr. Bulmer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how soon he expects unemployment to fall below 1 million.

Mr. Golding

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15th November to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price).—[Vol. 939, c.178.]

38. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were out of work in the United Kingdom at the most recent count; and how this figure compares with the figure for the same month in 1973.

Mr. Golding

At 10th November, 1,499,094 people were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom compared with 520,423 in November 1973.

Mr. Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the total

November 1973 November 1975 November 1977
(per cent.) (per cent.) (per cent.)
Leek … … … … … 1.0 4.7 4.1
Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area … 1.7 3.4 3.9
United Kingdom … … … … 2.2 5.0 6.4

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary

numbers of persons registered as unemployed in February 1974, and on the most recent date for which figures are available, respectively, in the following towns viz., Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Llanrwst, Denbigh, Ruthin and Llangollen.

Mr. Golding

Following is the information:

February 1974 November 1977
Colwyn Bay employment office area (which includes Abergele) 450 1,156
Denbigh employment office area (which includes Ruthin) 166 534
Llangollen employment office area 198 459
Llanwrst employment office area 92 238

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the working population in the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency has been unemployed in each of the past five years; and what has been the comparable percentage figure for the United Kingdom in each of these years.

Mr. Golding

The following table gives unemployment rates for Leek, the United Kingdom and the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area, which comprises Biddulph, Cheadle, Kidsgrove and five other employment office areas. Unemployment rates can be provided only for complete travel-to-work areas and not separately for their constituent parts. They are calculated by expressing the number registered as unemployed as a percentage of the total number of employees, employed and unemployed. This latter figure differs from the working population in that it does not include employers and self-employed persons and members of Her Majesty's Forces. Information is not available for November 1974 and November 1976 because of industrial action within the Department of Employment Group.

constituency have been unemployed in each of the past five years; and what have been the comparable figures for the United Kingdom in each of these years.

Mr. Golding

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed in the areas specified at November

November 1973 November 1975 November 1977
Leek … … … … … … 131 639 556
Biddulph … … … … … … 110 229 255
Cheadle … … … … … … 124 262 306
Kidsgrove … … … … … … 195 426 496
United Kingdom … … … … … 520,423 1,168,901 1,499,094

Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Employment at the latest date for which figures are available how many men and how many women had been unemployed for (a) between six months and a year, (b) between one and two years and (c) over two years; and if he will give each figure as a percentage of

Duration of unemployed in weeks Males Percentage of total males unemployed Per cent. Females Percentage of total females unemployed Per cent.
Over 26 and up to 52 … 165,749 16.1 67,088 15.7
Over 52 … … … 264,858 25.7 59,426 13.9

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects unemployment to return to the level at which it was when the Government took office.

Mr. Golding

The timing and scale of movements in the level of unemployment are extremely difficult to predict. If we can continue to break the inflationary spiral it would enable us to get unemployment moving regularly down in the years ahead. If, however, the scale of inflation begins to rise again we shall have slow growth and more unemployment. The chances of an earlier reduction in unemployment will be much improved if inflation can be brought under control.