HC Deb 26 April 1982 vol 22 cc202-3W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number and percentage of those unemployed in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Wolverhampton in April 1979 and at the latest available date; and what has been the percentage increase in both categories over this period.

Mr. Alison

At April 1979, the number of people registered as unemployed in the West Midlands region was 119,328 and the unemployment rate was 5.1 per cent., compared with 344,408 and 15.1 per cent. at March 1982. The corresponding figures for the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area were 8,053 and 5.5 per cent. at April 1979 and 23,517 and 16.1 per cent. at March 1982. The percentage increases between the two dates were 189 per cent. in the West Midlands region and 192 per cent. in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give for each of the last 12 months for which figures are available for the Tiverton travel-to-work area: (a) monthly unemployment average figures in total, for males and for females both by quantum and as a percentage of employed and (b) three-monthly average figures for each quarter, as (a) above.

Mr. Alison

Following is the information:

Number registered as unemployed Percentage rate of unemployment
Male Female Total Male Female Total
July 923 387 1,310 12.5 9.3 11.3
August 948 408 1,356 12.8 9.8 11.7
September 996 381 1,377 13.5 9.2 11.9
October 1,001 393 1,394 13.5 9.4 12.1
November 1,012 351 1,363 13.7 8.4 11.8
December 1,004 351 1,355 13.6 8.4 11.7
1982
January 1,084 381 1,465 14.7 9.2 12.7
February 1,119 397 1,516 15.1 9.5 13.1
March 1,185 395 1,580 16.0 9.5 13.7
Quarterly averages 1981
April-June 863 319 1,182 11.7 7.7 10.2
July-September 956 392 1,348 12.9 9.4 11.7
October-December 1,006 365 1,371 13.6 8.8 11.9
1982
January-March 1,129 391 1,520 15.3 9.4 13.1

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the percentage levels of unemployment in Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland in 1972 and the respective levels in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

Mr. Alison

The annual unemployment rates for 1972 and 1981 are given below, for the countries requested. The rates for different countries are not directly comparable because of differences in concepts, coverage and methods of compilation.

Unemployment rate
1972 1981
Scotland* 6.4 13.8
Norway* 0.9 1.5
Sweden† 2.7 2.5
Austria* 1.9 2.4
Switzerland* 0.0 0.2
* Numbers registered at employment offices. Rates are calculated as percentages of total employees.
† Estimates from labour force survey. Rates are calculated as percentage of total labour force.

Source: OECD Main Economic Indicators, except Scotland. Supplemented by labour attache reports etc.