§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of people registered as unemployed in Northern Ireland at December 1983 and in May 1979; and what has been the percentage increase.
§ Mr. ButlerSince October 1982 unemployment statistics have been based on claims for benefit at DHSS offices rather than on jobmarket registrations. At 8 December 1983 there were 118,430 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland compared with an estimated claimant figure of 58,100 in May 1979—an increase of 104 per cent.