§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in percentage and actual terms in unemployment among ethnic minorities, showing age groups and, in particular, young people, for the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the comparable figures for the increase in total unemployment and the comparable figures in those regions which account for most ethnic minority unemployment.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1981, c. 306]: The numbers of unemployed ethnic minority workers are collected quarterly in February, May, August and November, but are analysed by age groups only annually in February. Age analyses for all unemployed people are made in January, April, July and October.
Table 1 below gives the actual and percentage increases by age group between February 1979 and February 1980 for unemployed ethnic minority workers in Great Britain. It also gives the changes for corresponding age groups of all unemployed between January 1979 and January 1980.
Table 2 gives the actual and percentage increases by region for unemployed ethnic minority workers and for all unemployed people between November 1979 and November 1980.
Table 2 Increase in numbers unemployed between November 1979 and November 1980 Unemployed ethnic minority workers All unemployed Actual Percentage Actual Percentage South East 15,330 77.3 182,146 67.6 West Midlands 8,261 65.1 106,818 83.7 East Midlands *1,459 *30.5 54,839 75.3 Yorkshire and Humberside 3,693 90.6 83,697 71.4 North west 4,391 95.1 112,764 56.6 Other regions 987 40.7 238,640 47.2 Great Britain 34,121 70.5 778,904 60.3 * The ethnic minority workers unemployment figures for the East Midlands are incomplete and it is estimated that the changes between November 1979 and November 1980 are underestimated by about 120 and 2½ per cent. respectively.