HC Deb 26 November 1981 vol 13 cc469-71W
Mr. McMahon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current level of unemployment in Scotland among the age groups 16 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, 40 to 50, and 50 to 60 years; how many persons have been unemployed for periods of one year, two years, and three years or more; and how many of the current year's school leavers have secured employment without the youth opportunities programme.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Information is not available in the precise form requested. The following table shows the numbers of people in specific age groups who were registered as unemployed in Scotland on 8 October 1981.

Age Group Numbers registered as unemployed
16–19 64,180
20–29 110,453
30–44 74,507
45–54 38,692
55–59 19,748
60 and over 17,858

The following table shows the number of people in Scotland who on 8 October had been registered as unemployed for the periods stated.

Duration in weeks Numbers registered as unemployed
Over 52 and up to 104 weeks 57,835
Over 104 and up to 156 weeks 15,794
Over 156 weeks 20,140

Information is not available on the numbers of the current year's school leavers who have found jobs outwith the youth opportunities programme.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of people were unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in August 1979, August 1980 and August 1981; and what are the figures for males and females, respectively.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The information is set out in the following table:

Percentage Unemployed in the Edinburgh Travel-to-work area
Total Male Female
August 1979 6.2 7.6 4.4
August 1980 7.4 8.9 5.3
August 1981 10.4 12.9 7.1

Note 1. The Edinburgh travel-to-work area comprises the following employment office areas: Edinburgh, Leith, Portobello, Dalkeith, Loanhead, Musselburgh, Penicuik and Tranent.

Note 2. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage rate of unemployment in Scotland and the United Kingdom in August 1979, August 1980 and August 1981.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The information is set out in the following table:

Percentage Rate of Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Scotland United Kingdom
August 1979 7.3 5.1
August 1980 9.4 6.9
August 1981 13.0 10.7

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number and percentage of those unemployed in Dundee and Scotland in May 1979; what are the current numbers and percentages; and what has been the percentage increase in both categories over the same period.

May 1979 November 1981
Numbers registered as unemployed Percentage rate Numbers registered as unemployed Percentage rate Percentage increase May 1979-November 1981
Dundee 8,109 8.4 15,061 15.4 85.7
Scotland 165,441 7.3 325,600 14.4 96.8

NoteThe figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people under 18 years of age have never had a job since leaving school in (a) Dundee and (b) Scotland.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

On 12 November 1981, 937 young people under 18 who had not entered employment since leaving school were registered as unemployed in Dundee. The corresponding figure for Scotland was 18,271.