§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Paymaster General what is the rate of unemployment in the south of England, defined as south of a line from Bristol to the Wash; and what is the rate in the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LangOn 8 May 1986 the rate of unemployment in the South of England, defined as those counties* south of a line from Bristol to the Wash, was 10.3 per cent. The corresponding figure for the rest of the United Kingdom was 15.9 per cent.
* Avon, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Surrey, Wiltshire and West Sussex.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Paymaster General what has been the change in numbers and percentage in the size of 667W the civilian employed labour force in the south of England, defined as south of a line from Bristol to the Wash, since 1966 and since 1976, respectively; and what are the comparable figures for the rest of the United Kingdom.
Civilian employed labour force Change between June 1966 and June 1985 Change between June 1976 and June 1985 Numbers Percentage Numbers Percentage South of England* 544,000 5.3 551,000 5.3 -1,408,00- Rest of the United Kingdom 0 -9.6 -973,000 -6.9 * South East. East Anglia and South West regions.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Paymaster General how many unemployed people under 25 years old drawing benefit there have been in the south-east for each of the last 10 years; and what percentage this was of (a) south-east unemployment and (b) United Kingdom unemployment.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. The table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the south-east region for April of each year from 1983. The figures relate to unemployed persons claiming unemployment benefit, supplementary benefit or national insurance credits at unemployment benefit offices. Comparisons over the period are affected by the change in the timing of compilation of unemployment statistics in March 1986. Analyses of unemployed claimants are not available before October 1982.
Unemployed Claimants—under 25 years South East Percentage of South East Total Percentage of United Kingdom Total April Number Per cent. Per cent. 1983 261,089 35.7 8.2 1984 265,627 36.3 8.5 1985 275,665 35.2 8.4 1986 262,714 33.1 7.9