HC Deb 28 October 1983 vol 47 c216W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women were in employment in June in each year since 1978.

Mr. Alan Clark

The numbers of employees in employment in Great Britain are given in the following table. Estimates after 1978 are provisional and those for 1982 and 1983 include an allowance for underestimation in the basic estimates.

June Male Female
1978 13,096,000 9,158,000
1979 13,154,000 9,433,000
1980 12,960,000 9,396,000
1981 12,191,000 9,040,000
1982 11,793,000 8,978,000
1983 11,501,000 8,958,000

Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youths are unemployed in the Barnsley travel-to-work area; and, of these, how many have been unemployed for more than 12 months.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available, there were 1,112 unemployed claimants under 18 years of age in the Barnsley travel-to-work area, 69 of whom had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks. There were also 2,505 unemployed new summer school leavers not yet entitled to claim benefit.

Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce the numbers of unemployed in Yorkshire and Humberside and in particular in the Barnsley and district travel-to-work area; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

Real and sustainable new jobs will be created in the Barnsley travel-to-work area, Yorkshire and Humberside and elsewhere as our industries become more competitive and sell more goods and services. There are continuing signs that the Government's policies are succeeding in establishing the economic conditions which will help them do so. Inflation is firmly under control, output is 2.5 per cent. higher than a year ago and productivity in manufacturing has risen by about 20 per cent. since 1980.