§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the main findings of his Department's latest survey of the labour force and, in particular, on the number of those on the unemployment register who either had a job or were not seeking work during the period of the survey; and if he will indicate the criteria used in determining whether such persons should be included in the unemployment statistics.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe 1984 labour force survey showed that there were about 740,000 claimants without a job but not actively seeking work in the survey week and therefore not classified as unemployed using the survey definition. There were a further 200,000 claimants not classed as unemployed because they said they had a paid job. The monthly unemployment count includes all those who make a claim at an unemployment benefit office for unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit or national insurance credits and sign on as available for work.