§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 May regarding the numbers of those unemployed for 12 months and over, what was the percentage increase in (a) the west midlands, (b) the black country and areas and (c) the Walsall travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe current statistics of duration of unemployment are not directly comparable with those for 1979 because of the change in October 1982 in the basis of the count and the 1983 Budget provisions which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on in order to receive benefits or national insurance credits. The following table gives the available information.
Unemployed for over 52 weeks (per cent.) Travel-to-work area West Midlands Dudley and Sandwell Wolver-hampton Walsall Registered unemployed percentage change, April 1979 to October 1982 +356 +575 +367 +439 Unemployed claimants percentage change, October 1982 to April 1984 +21 +23 +30 +19