HC Deb 04 May 1982 vol 23 cc5-6W
20. Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now unemployed; and what was the comparable figure in May 1979.

Mr. Alison

At the April count, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3,007,726. The seasonally adjusted figure excluding school leavers was 2,850,400. The corresponding figure for May 1979 was 1,308,100.

28. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number who are registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom and the number who were registered unemployed in May 1979, giving the percentage increase which has occurred since then.

Mr. Alison

At April 1982, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, excluding school leavers and seasonally adjusted, was 2,850,400. The corresponding figure at May 1979 was 1,308,100. The increase between the two dates was 117.9 per cent.

29. Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the employment trends in the city of Liverpool since May 1979.

Mr. Alison

Employment statistics for the period requested are not available for areas smaller than regions.

The Government are very aware of the problems facing Liverpool. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is working with local government and the private sector to find ways of strengthening the area's economy and improving its environment. Liverpool has every form of Government assistance available, including special development area status, an urban development corporation and an enterprise zone. Our programme of special employment and training measures continues to be available to help those hardest hit by the high levels of unemployment. In the longer term, however, a lasting improvement in the employment situation in Liverpool and elsewhere will depend on developing a soundly based economy, which the Government's policies are designed to achieve, and on the efforts of British industry to produce the goods and services which people want to buy at prices they are prepared to pay.

30. Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the employment trends in (a) the North-West and (b) the South-East of England.

Mr. Alison

The following table gives, for the areas specified, the total numbers of employees in employment at June each year from 1971 to 1981 and at December 1981, the latest available.

North-west region (000s) South-east region (000s)
June each year
1971 2,657 7,247
1972 2,639 7,261
1973 2,691 7,350
1974 2,702 7,368
1975 2,675 7,319
1976 2,638 7,247
1977 2,646 7,227
1978 2,651 7,292
1979* 2,665 7,350
1980* 2,603 7,270
1981* 2,425 6,940
1981 (December) 2,385 6,842
* Provisional.

31. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of people unemployed: what proportion this constitutes of the working population; and if he will make a statement.

35. Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

Mr. Alison

At 15 April, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3,007,726 and the unemployment rate was 12.6 per cent. The rate is based on the estimated number of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes members of Her Majesty's Forces and the self-employed.

Unemployment is increasing much less steeply than it was last year, and the number of vacancies is continuing to increase. Although unemployment is bound to rise again with this year's school leavers, the improvements we have already seen in competitiveness and inflation are encouraging for future employment prospects.

36. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many employment areas the rate of unemployment is above 20 per cent.

Mr. Alison

Percentage rates of unemployment are calculated for employment office areas, either singly or grouped to form travel-to-work areas. At 15 April there were 39 such areas in the United Kingdom with unemployment rates above 20 per cent.