HC Deb 02 March 1982 vol 19 cc94-7W
14. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women at the most recent available date had been out of work for more than (i) six months, (ii) 12 months, (iii) 18 months and (iv) two years, respectively.

Mr. Alison

At 14 January the figures for the United Kingdom were:

Male Female
Unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks 494,646 203,819
Unemployed for over 52 and up to 78 weeks 322,899 92,043
Unemployed for over 78 and up to 104 weeks 150,829 40,604
Unemployed for over 104 weeks 243,173 55,557

16. Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed persons there are now for every registered job vacancy; and what were the comparable figures in May 1979.

Mr. Alison

In February 1982, the number of people registered as unemployed was 3,045,000; there were 99,000 unfilled vacancies at employment offices on the day of the count and 5,000 at careers offices. The corresponding figures in May 1979 were 1,299,000 unemployed; 268,000 vacancies at employment offices; and 41,000 vacancies at careers offices. However. vacancies at employment offices account for only about one-third of all vacancies in the economy.

18. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of registered unemployed in the United Kingdom; what was the comparable number in the same month last year; and what is the increase in percentage terms.

Mr. Tebbit

The numbers of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom were 3,044,878 at February 1982 and 2,463,294 at February 1981. The increase between the two dates was 23.6 per cent.

21. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of increase of unemployed people in the latter half of 1981.

Mr. Tebbit

Between June and December 1981 the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, increased by 9 per cent.

23. Mr. John Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the latest figures for unemployment.

28. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure and percentage of unemployment.

Mr. Tebbit

At 11 February, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3,044,878, and the unemployment rate was 12.6 per cent.

25. Mr. Arthur Davidson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the 1979 and latest unemployment figures for men and women, and the number of job vacancies in North-East Lancashire.

Mr. Alison

At February 1979 there were 7,282 males and 3,283 females registered as unemployed in North-East Lancashire. The corresponding figures at February 1982 were 18,585 males and 9,074 females.

The numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled in the area at February 1979 were 1,716 at employment offices and 170 at careers offices. The corresponding figures at February 1982 were 839 at employment offices and 18 at careers offices. The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to employment offices and careers offices; vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the 12-month period to December 1981, 47,903 people were placed in jobs by employment offices in the county of Lancashire. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.

27. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for the number of registered unemployed persons.

Mr. Alison

At 11 February, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3,044,878.

46. Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest level of unemployment, in figures and per cent., in the United Kingdom; what were the corresponding figures in May 1979; and by what factor these figures have increased since that date.

Mr. Alison

At February 1982, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 2,836,000 and the unemployment rate was 11.7 per cent. The corresponging figures at May 1979 were 1,312,000 and 5.4 per cent. The increase between the two dates was 116.2 per cent.

47. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons who have been made unemployed since May 1979; and what is the total number of jobs provided in the same period, excluding the various schemes of temporary employment made under the auspices of the Manpower Services Commission.

Mr. Alison

Unemployment, seasonally adjusted, excluding school leavers, increased from 1,312,000 in May 1979 to 2,836,000 in February 1982.

Information on the employed labour force is not available for May 1979. In June 1979, the employed labour force of the United Kingdom was 25.1 million, seasonally adjusted. The corresponding figure for September 1981, the latest for which information is available, is 23.2 million, seasonally adjusted.

Employment returns do not identify separately jobs provided through the initiatives of the Manpower Services Commission.

48. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentages of unemployment for males and females, respectively, in the travel-to-work areas which include the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges at the latest available date; and what were the figures for May 1979.

Mr. Alison

The following is the information:

Percentage rate of unemployment
May 1979 February 1982*
Male Female Male Female
Mexborough travel-to-work area (Mexborough and Goldthorpe employment office areas) 9.2 10.1 21.8 19.5
Barnsley travel-to-work area (Barnsley, Hoyland and Wombwell employment office areas) 7.1 5.2 15.9 11.3
* Provisional.

The unemployment figures on which the percentage rates are based include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

50. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for employment, nationally and regionally; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

The latest figures, which are for September 1981, were published in table 1.5 of the labour market data section of the January 1982 issue ofEmployment Gazette.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, what are the highest and lowest current figures for unemployment in an assisted area; and what is the average figure for all areas.

Mr. Alison

At 14 January, the highest unemployment rate for a local area within assisted areas was 28.3 per cent. and the lowest was 5.5 per cent. The rate for assisted areas as a whole was 15.1 per cent.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of offices in assisted areas record rates of unemployment which are: (a) 90 to 100 per cent., (b) 80 to 90 per cent. and (c) 80 per cent. of the average rate for all assisted areas; and how many and what percentage of offices in the West Midlands register unemployment rates in the same categories.

Mr. Alison

Unemployment rates are calculated for employment office areas either singly or grouped to form travel-to-work areas which vary very considerably in size. The following table gives at 14 January the proportions of these rates falling within the ranges specified and provides similar information for areas in the West Midlands region.

Assisted areas in Great Britain Percentage of total areas West Midlands region
Number Percentage of total areas
Proportion of rate for all assisted areas:
(a) Over 90 and up to 100 per cent. 15.1 5 18.5
(b) Over 80 and up to 90 per cent. 13.3 3 11.1
(c) Up to 80 per cent. 24.3 10 37.0