HC Deb 24 June 1986 vol 100 cc94-9W
14. Mr. Flannery

asked the Paymaster General what is the latest figure of United Kingdom unemployed people.

Mr. Lang

On 8 May 1986, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,271,000.

15. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report the number of unemployed in Willesden and Wembley on 1 June for each year since 1979.

Mr. Lang

Following is the available information. The table shows the numbers of unemployed claimants in an area closely corresponding to that covered by the Willesden and Wembley jobcentres on the unemployment count date in June 1983, 1984 and 1985. Statistics of unemployment for local areas are derived from the new ward-based system and are available only since June 1983. Information for 12 June 1986 will be available in the Library on 17 July.

Unemployed claimants in Wembley and Willesden—June each year
Number
9 June 1983 8,911
14 June 1984 9,357
13 June 1985 9,568

Note:

These figures relate to the following wards: Alperton, Barham, Barnhill, Kenton, Kingsbury, Preston, St. Andrews, Sudbury, Sudbury Court, Tokyngton, Wembley Central, Chamberlayne, Church End, Harlesden, Kensal Rise, Manor, Roundwood, St. Raphaels and Stonebridge.

19. Mr. Canavan

asked the Paymaster General what is the total number of unemployed people in the United Kingdom.

35. Mr. Eadie

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

43. Mr. Martin

asked the Paymaster General what is the total number of persons unemployed at the latest available date; and what rate of unemployment this figure represents.

75. Mr. Latham

asked the Paymaster General whether he will make a statement on the level of unemployment.

Mr. Lang

On 8 May 1986, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,270,892, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 13.5 per cent.

32. Ms. Richardson

asked the Paymaster General what is the best available estimate of the number of women who are unemployed but not included in the unemployment figures because of their ineligibility for benefit.

Mr. Lang

According to preliminary results from the labour force survey, in the spring of 1985 in Great Britain, there were 580,000 women who were without jobs seeking work but were not included in the monthly count of benefit claimants. There were also about 440,000 women who were claiming benefits and included in the monthly figures, who either had a paid job or were not looking for work.

37. Mr. Fisher

asked the Paymaster General what percentage of the total number of persons aged under 25 years and unemployed have been unemployed for more than 12 months.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available, 28 per cent. of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the United Kingdom had been unemployed for more than 12 months.

38. Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Paymaster General how the number of unemployed women aged under 25 years compares to that of unemployed men aged under 25 years.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, the numbers of male and female unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the United Kingdom were 731,170 and 452,663, respectively.

40. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton

asked the Paymaster General what are the latest figures available concerning the numbers of long-term unemployed.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over 12 months was 1,356,509.

42. Mr. Cunliffe

asked the Paymaster General how many persons aged under 25 years have been unemployed for more than 12 months at the latest available date.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available, the number of unemployment claimants aged under 25 years who had been unemployed for over 12 months in the United Kingdom was 331,471.

47. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Paymaster General if he is satisfied with the arrangements for determining the number of unemployed people.

Mr. Lang

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes) on 21 May at column152.

51. Mr. Wigley

asked the Paymaster General how many persons there are in full-time employment in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; how this figure compares with the figure for May 1979; and what are the corresponding figures relating to Wales for those dates.

Mr. Lang

Within the regularly published employment series the estimates of the numbers of self-employed persons and of male employees in employment do not separately identify those in full-time employment. Analyses of full and part-time female employees in employment are not available for the United Kingdom for the dates specified. The available information for Great Britain and for Wales is given in table 1.

TABLE 1
Males and full-time female employees in employment Self employed persons
Great Britain
June 1979* 18,768,000 1,842,000
December 1985† 16,681,000 2,604,000
Wales
June 1979 868,000 124,000
December 1985 722,000 150,000
* Not available for May.
† The latest date for which estimates are available.

The labour force survey provides information on a different basis but provides estimates of the numbers of full-time male and female employees for the spring of 1979 and 1985 and of full-time self-employed for the spring of 1985. The available information is given in table 2.

TABLE 2
Labour Force Survey data on persons in full-time* employment
Thousands
Great Britain Wales
Full-time Full-time Full-time Full-time
Spring employees self employed employees self employed
1979 18,238 n/a 868 n/a
1985† 16,366 2,242 730 117
* Based on respondent's own assessment, not on hours worked.
† Preliminary results.

52. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of the unemployed have been without work for (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) three years.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, the proportions of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for between one and two years, two and three years and over three years were 15.4 per cent., 8.4 per cent. and 17.1 per cent., respectively.

57. Mr. Barron

asked the Paymaster General what is the total number of people under 25 years of age unemployed in the Rother Valley; and how this compares with the national figure.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, the numbers of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the Rother Valley parliamentary constituency and in the United Kingdom were 2,286 and 1,183,833, respectively.

60. Mr. Madden

asked the Paymaster General how many people in the Bradford travel-to-work area have been unemployed for more than a year.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, the number of claimants who had been unemployed for over one year in the Bradford travel-to-work area was 13,906.

62. Mr. Dormand

asked the Paymaster General if he will state the number of unemployed, and the percentage, at May 1979 and May 1986, respectively, in the northern region.

Mr. Lang

On 8 May 1986 the number of unemployed claimants, seasonally adjusted excluding school leavers, in the northern region was 226,600, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 18 per cent. The corresponding number and rate for May 1979 were 99,100 and 7.3 per cent.

66. Mr. Shersby

asked the Paymaster General what was the total number of people in part-time or full-time work on the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure on 1 July 1979.

Mr. Lang

The information is as follows:

Employed Labour Force in Great Britain (Adjusted for seasonal variations)
Number
June 1979* 24,775,000
December 1985† 24,010,000

Table 1
Great Britain
Thousands and per cent.
Males and full.time female employees Self.employed persons Total As percentage of population aged 16 and over *As percentage of population of working age
June 1975 16,794 1,933 18,727 45.5 58.9
December 1985 16,681 2,064 19,285 44.2 57.3
* Those in employment include an unknown number above working age.

The labour force survey (LFS) provides information on a different basis but provides estimates of all persons in full-time employment. Preliminary LFS results for the spring of 1985 are given in table 2. Comparable information from the 1975 LFS is not available.

* Not available for 1 July 1979.
† The latest date for which an estimate is available.

The Employed Labour Force is the sum of employees in employment. The self-employed, and HM forces.

74. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Paymaster General what are the latest unemployment figures; and how these compare with the figures for December 1979.

Mr. Lang

On 8 May 1986 the number of unemployed claimants, seasonally adjusted excluding school leavers, in the United Kingdom was 3,208,600. The corresponding number for December 1979 was 1,121,700.

77. Mr. Wareing

asked the Paymaster General how many people are currently registered as unemployed in the Liverpool, West Derby constituency; how many have been jobless for more than a year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lang

On 10 April 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available. The number of unemployed claimants in the Liverpool, West Derby constituency was 9,768, of whom 5,357 had been unemployed for over one year.

82. Mr. Parry

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for Merseyside.

Mr. Lang

On 8 May 1986, the number of unemployed claimants in the Merseyside metropolitan area was 139,502.

91. Mr. Hardy

asked the Paymaster General hove many people are currently in full-time employment; what proportion of the population this represents; and what was the comparable figure 10 year ago.

Mr. Lang

Information is not available in the exact form requested.

Within the regularly published employment series, the estimates of the numbers of self-employed persons and of male employees in employment do not separately identify those in full-time employment. That latest available information for Great Britain, together with information for June 1975, is given in Table 1.

Table 2
Labour force survey data on full-time* employment
Great Britain
Thousands and per cent.
All persons in full-time employment As percentage of population aged 16 and over †As percentage of population of working age
18,608 43.4 56.0

* Based on respondent's own assessment, not on hours worked.
† If those identified in the LFS as being in full-time employment and above working age are excluded this proportion becomes 55.4 per cent.