§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were unemployed in 85W the Province at the latest date for which figures are available; what were the equivalent figures for each of the last five years and for 10 years previously; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonAt 8 May 1986 there were 124,717 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland. Figures for each of the last five years and for 10 years previously are as follows:
Year Unemployed claimants at May of each year 1985 120,922 1984 120,597 1983 114,953 1982 105,100 1981 95,900 1976 48,800 Note:
1. Figures prior to 1983 are estimates and rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures over the period are not strictly comparable due to changes in the method of counting.
The Government recognise the seriousness of the unemployment problem in Northern Ireland and continue to give a high priority to employment training and enterprise programmes, details of which were published in Action for Jobs Northern Ireland on 24 June 1986.