HC Deb 22 January 1980 vol 977 cc119-20W
21. Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment

Mr. Jim Lester

At 10 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 1,404,439.

26. Mr. Woolmer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimate of the numbers and percentage unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what measures the Government intend to take to reduce these figures.

Mr. Jim Lester

At 10 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 1,470,621, a percentage rate of 6.1. The Government will continue their fiscal and monetary policies to provide the right economic climate for an expansion of real jobs.

32. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people currently are unemployed, and how many unfilled vacancies exist, in the county of South Yorkshire.

Mr. Jim Lester

At 10 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the county of South Yorkshire was 38,115. At 4 January there were 2,148 vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and 229 at careers offices. Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the vacancy figures at employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

35. Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his expectation of the changes in the level of unemployment in 1980; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jim Lester

My right hon. Friend has made no secret of his view that unemployment will rise during 1980. However, it lies within the power of both sides of industry working together to improve their productivity and competitiveness and this would offer the best hope of bringing unemployment down.