HC Deb 08 March 1983 vol 38 cc365-7W
14. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the registered number of unemployed at the latest available date.

Mr. Gummer

Figures for registered unemployed are no longer available, but the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom at 10 February was 3,199,412, while the latest figure for the number employed is 21.0 million.

16. Mr. Radice

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in the rate of unemployment in the seven major members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development since May 1979.

Mr. Alison

Unemployment in the seven major members of the OECD has increased since May 1979 by an average of about 80 per cent. with increases ranging from about 25 per cent. in Italy and Japan to 154 per cent. in Germany. Following is a table showing the increase for each country separately:

Seasonally adjusted unemployment, national definitions percentage increase May 1979 to latest month
Per cent.
Canada January 75
USA February 95

per cent.
Japan December 26
France Januarv 50
Germany February 154
Italy October 23
United Kingdom Februay 139
Above seven October 80

Source: OECD "Main Economic Indicators' supplemented by labour attache reports etc.

17. Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest total number of unemployed, including school leavers, in the United Kingdom; and what has been the increase since May 1979.

Mr. Gummer

At February 1983, the total number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, including school leavers and not seasonally adjusted, was 3,199,412, an increase of 1,980,512 since May 1979.

21. Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now unemployed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Tebbit

At 10 February, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,199,412.

22. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number and percentage of those who are unemployed.(a) overall and (b) expressed on a regional basis.

Mr. Gummer

At 10 February, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,199,412 and the unemployment rate was 13.7 per cent. the comparable regional figures were published in the unemployment press notice issued by my Department on 3 March; a copy is in the House of Commons Library.

38. Mr. Parry

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

Mr. Alison

The February figures showed a fall in total numbers of unemployed and vacancies have improved. Seasonally adjusted unemployment is still rising, and future prospects depend on world economic recovery and on wage restraint and further improvements in competitiveness.

42. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures expressed numerically and as a percentage in Wales and the United Kingdom; and how they compare with those for May 1979.

Mr. Alison

At 10 Feburary, the number of unemployed claimants in Wales was 166,500 and the unemployment rate was 16.1 per cent. The corresponding figures for the United Kigdom were 3,000,300 and 12.9 per cent. respectively. At May 1979, the number of unemployed claimants in Wales was 78,200, and the unemployment rate was 7.1 per cent. The corresponding figures for the United Kingdom were 1,253,500 and 5.2 per cent. respectively. The figures exclude school leavers and are seasonally adjusted.

53. Mr. Race

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage rise in unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, and including school leavers, between May 1979 and the most recent month for which figures are available.

Mr. Alison

Between May 1979 and February 1983 the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom, including school leavers and not seasonally adjusted, increased by 162 per cent.

58. Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in unemployment in percentage terms nationally, in west Yorkshire and in Huddersfield since May 1979.

Mr. Alison

The following table gives, for the areas specified, the percentage increases in the numbers of people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—between May 1979 and October 1982, and the percentage increases in the numbers of unemployed claimants—the new basis of the count—between October 1982 and February 1983. It also gives the percentage increase in the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom between May 1979 and February 1983. The figures on which the percentages are based include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

Percentage increase in unemployment
United Kingdom West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Huddersfield jobcentre area
Registered Unemployed
May 1979 to October 1982 153.6 185.5 263.8
Unemployment claimants
October 1982 to February 1983 4.9 3.4 2.1
May 1979 to February 1983 162.5 * *
* Not available.