§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department has issued instructions to Derbyshire county council or to any other local authority to restrict the publication of figures pertaining to unemployment in its area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonLocal authorities are asked not to release to the media unemployment and vacancy figures in respect of their careers offices before the publication of my Department's monthly unemployment and vacancies press notice. The synchronised publication of local, regional and national figures provides a clear picture of the total situation against which local figures can be interpreted.