HC Deb 17 March 1983 vol 39 c229W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will bring up to date the information given in the reply dated 31 July 1981, Official Report, c. 707, to the hon. Member for Grimsby concerning unemployment and the fall in employment.

Mr. Alison

The following is the latest available information for the United Kingdom.

Unemployed claimants—seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers*
Total
May 1979 1,253,500
February 1983 3,000,300
Increase 1,746,800
* Figures of unemployment by industry are not available after May 1982.

Employees in employment—seasonally adjusted
Total of whom, those employed in manufacturing industries
June 1979 23,087,000 7,207,000
September 1982* 20,897,000 5,669,000
Decrease 2,190,000 1,538,000
December 1982* 5,571,000
Decrease from June 1979 1,636,000
* Provisional.