§ Mr. Baldryasked the Paymaster General if he will give a breakdown by age and sex of the long-term unemployed.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following information is in the Library. The table gives the available analysis of those unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over one year as at 11 July 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available.
Long term unemployment—United Kingdom—11 July 1985—Age analysis Male Female Under 17 years 0 0 17 years 6,179 4,240 18 years 22,375 15,059 19 years 33,154 20,963 20–24 years 175,660 73,219 25–29 years 138,250 35,980 30–34 years 116,768 21,492 35–39 years 108,025 17,865 40–44 years 87,065 19,305 45–49 years 84,357 25,337 50–54 years 95,368 32,609 55–59 years 132,639 43,289 60 and over 16,632 1,054
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Paymaster General how many persons who have been made redundant are included in the latest unemployment figures; and what criteria are used to determine which redundant persons are included.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkSeparate figures for those made redundant are not available. But according to the labour force survey, in Great Britain in the spring of 1984, about 26 per cent. of the claimant unemployed had had a job within the previous three years and had left their last job because of redundancy or dismissal.
All people made redundant and making claims at unemployment benefit offices are included in the unemployment count while they are signing on, although the payments received may affect their entitlement to unemployment benefit or supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Paymaster General why persons in receipt of paid holiday are included in the unemployment figures for the weeks in which they are in receipt of holiday pay; and how many such persons were included in the latest unemployment figures.
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§ Mr. Alan ClarkThere should be no such persons in receipt of holiday pay included in the monthly unemployment figures.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Paymaster General how many employed persons who were also classified as sick were included in the latest unemployment figures; how many sick, self-employed persons were included; and in each case, why.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkAccording to results of the 1984 labour force survey, there were about 15,000 people who said they were claiming benefits and had a job but were away from it for at last part of the reference week because of sickness or injury.
The number of self-employed people in this category was insignificant. Some people with jobs—for example, those with low paid part-time jobs— may legitimately claim benefit and some may sign on but later have their claim disallowed
The survey results may also be subject to some respondent errors.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Paymaster General (1) what is the definition of unemployment used in compiling the monthly unemployment figures;
(2) if he will list (a) all the separate categories of persons who are included in the unemployment figures and (b) all the various claim forms which, if completed, result in a person being included in the unemployment figures.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe monthly unemployment count relates to all unemployed people signing on at unemployment benefit offices to claim unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.
The main claim forms which result in a person being included in the unemployment figures are the initial claim form (UB461) and the fortnightly declaration of unemployment (UB 25). In addition, the following forms are used in particular circumstances:
Claim Form Purpose UB 20 Weekly claiming UB88 (Qtrly) Quarterly claiming PF Postal claiming book PQF Postal claiming book PQW Postal claiming book UB 88P Weekly postal claiming UB 88P(AE) Part-time worker postal Claiming. UB 20(SF) Share fishermen's claims UB 118 (AE) Share fishermen's claims with other part-time work UB90 Seeking work away from home UB88X Confirmation of past unemployment UB 26T/V Fortnightly claiming with weekly cheques by personal issue. UB591 Delayed claim for benefit CR2 Weekly application for NI credits CR 2 (Quarterly) Quarterly application for NI credits CR5 Postal application for NI credits UB 40 (Part 2) Signing-on card UB43 Final days of claim UB44 Failed to sign cases UB71 Final claim by a personal issue CR4 Final days-NI credits only UB25(AE) Part-time worker
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Liverpool.
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§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe level of unemployment in Liverpool is too high. That is why there is an extensive range of Government assistance to attract new investment and therefore new jobs. The area will also benefit from the expansion of three of our special employment and training measures—the youth training scheme, the community programme and the enterprise allowance scheme. But the creation of jobs in Liverpool and elsewhere depends primarily on the efforts of entrepreneurs and the competitiveness of industry.
§ Mr. Fatchettasked the Paymaster General how many of those who left school in 1985 in the Leeds travel-to-work area were in full-time employment on the latest available figures; and what is that figure as a percentage of school leavers.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyInformation from the Leeds careers service indicates that of 6,802 young people who left school this year in the Leeds travel-to-work area 1,832, or 26.9 per cent., went into employment. In addition, 2,783, some of whom will be employees, entered the youth training scheme.
§ Mr. Wareingasked the Paymaster General what were the levels of unemployment for each month of 1985 in Peacehaven and Dorking.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants for the Lewes No. 9 ward which relates to Peacehaven, and the Dorking north-east, Dorking northwest, Dorking south-east, Dorking south-west and north Holmwood wards which relate to Dorking.
Peacehaven Dorking January 1985 474 332 February 1985 478 333 March 1985 441 318 April 1985 454 318 May 1985 427 307 June 1985 429 289 July 1985 417 299 August 1985 437 305 September 1985 447 301