HC Deb 18 March 1980 vol 981 c171W
22. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of the total unemployed by the end of 1980.

Mr. Jim Lester

Present indications suggest that unemployment is likely to be on rising trend, but I see no point in attempting precise estimates. Experience shows that, of all forecasts, those about unemployment are the most unreliable.

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present total of unemployed people in the United Kingdom; and how many of them are young people under 25 years of age.

Mr. Jim Lester

At 14 February, 1,488,923 people were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom. The numbers unemployed are analysed by age quarterly. At 10 January, the latest date for which this analysis is available, the total number unemployed was 1,470,571; this included 538,574 under 25 years of age.