HC Deb 05 March 1985 vol 74 cc460-2W
22. Mr. Andrew MacKay

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

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,341,000, which represents an unemployment rate of 13.9 per cent. We are gravely concerned about the level of unemployment indicated by these figures, and we are this year spending around £2 billion on employment and training measures. However, sustainable employment depends on a healthy economy, competitive industry and a more flexible labour market, and our policies are directed to those ends.

23. Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unemployed; and what proportion of these are under 25 years of age.

55. Mr. Maxton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of unemployed; and what proportion are under 25 years of age.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985 the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,340,958. Of these 38.5 per cent. were under 25 years of age.

30. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under the age of 21 years are unemployed; and what percentage this is of the total number unemployed.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom under 20 years of age was 571,664, which was 17.1 per cent. of the total. The available analysis by age does not separate those under 21.

38. Mr. Litherland

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current numbers of people unemployed.

Mr. Alan Clark

On the 10 January 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,340,958.

40. Mr. Maginnis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what region of the United Kingdom has the highest rate of unemployment.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland was 21.3 per cent., which is higher than for all other regions of the United Kingdom.

45. Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people under 25 years of age are currently unemployed.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985 the number of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the United Kingdom was 1,286,183.

54. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the numbers of people in the United Kingdom who will be seeking employment in each of the next three years; and how these figures compare with the current number.

Mr. Alan Clark

My Department does not make forecasts of the number of people seeking employment.

Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for over 12 months at the most recent date; and how many are over 50 years of age.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, the number of claimants who had been unemployed for over 12 months was 1,316,017. Of these, 318,213 were over 50 years of age.

Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for over one year, two years, and three years, respectively, at the most recent available date.

Mr. McTaggart

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for over 12 months and over two years at the latest available date.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, the number of claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over one year was 1,316,017. Of these, 761,409 had been unemployed for over two years and 454,154 for over three years.

75. Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the registered insured population, male and female, are in part-time employment.

Mr. Alan Clark

The information is not available in the precise form requested. Information about the numbers of employees, male and female, in full-time and part-time employment can be provided but only for those dates when censuses of employment are taken. Censuses of employment have been taken triennially since 1978 and the latest results are for September 1981. At that time, there were 21,314 million employees in employment in Great Britain with 21 per cent. working part-time. There were 12,229 million male workers and 9,085 million female workers with 5.9 per cent. of the males and 41.6 per cent. of the females working part-time.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the increase in employment in 1984 was in full-time jobs; and how many married women returned to work in 1984.

Mr. Alan Clark

Between September 1983 and September 1984 the employed labour force is estimated to have increased by 342,000. Within this total the number of women in part-time work increased by 207,000, women in full-time work by 54,000, and men by 81,000. Numbers of men in part-time work are available only for census of employment dates. It is estimated that the number of married women in work increased by about 175,000.

Mr. Parry

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

Mr. Alan Clark

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) earlier today.