§ 22. Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Paymaster General how many people are currently registered as unemployed within the east midlands area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangOn 10 April 1986 the number of unemployed claimants in the east midlands region was 205,847.
The Government's economic strategy is providing the climate of low inflation and sustained growth which is the only sensible way to secure real jobs in the east midlands and elsewhere. The east midlands will also benefit from the new package of measures announced in the Budget to accelerate the growth of enterprise. Boost opportunities for the young, and help the long-term unemployed find work.
§ 23. Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.
§ Mr. LangOn 10 April 1986, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,325,058.
§ 27. Mr. Pikeasked the Paymaster General how many persons aged under 25 years have been unemployed for more than 12 months at the latest available date.
§ Mr. LangOn 9 January 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom aged under 25 years who have been unemployed for more than 12 months was 349,586.
§ 29. Mr. Sean Hughesasked 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. LangOn 9 January 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.
§ 33. Mr. Deakinsasked the Postmaster General how many workers were in (a) full-time employment and (b) part-time employment in 1979, 1983 and at the latest available date.
§ Mr. LangEstimates of the numbers of self-employed persons and of male employees are not separately available for full and part-time workers. The available figures are as follows:
Civilian employed labour force in Great Britain December of each year Males and full-time female employees Part-time female employees Self employed persons 1979 18,792,000 3,880,000 1,896,000 1983 16,635,000 4,081,000 2,298,000 1985* 16,665,000 4,407,000 2,604,000 * The latest date for which an estimate is available.
§ 36. Mr. Strangasked the Paymaster General how many people were unemployed for more than 12 months at the latest available date; and what was the comparable figure five years ago.
§ Mr. LangOn 9 January 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, the number of claimants in the United Kingdom who had been 147W unemployed for over 12 months was 1,371,632. The corresponding number of unemployed registrants as at 15 January 1981 was 455,402. The figures are not strictly comparable because of changes in the way the figures are collected.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General (1) what was the level of youth unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date; what was the comparable figure for May 1979; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what was the level of youth unemployment on Merseyside at the latest date; what were the figures for May 1979; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what was the level of youth unemployment in England and Wales at the latest date; what were the figures in May 1979; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what was the level of youth unemployment in the Liverpool, Riverside constituency at the latest date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. The table gives the numbers of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in England and Wales, Merseyside metropolitan area, the Liverpool travel-to-work area and the Liverpool, Riverside parliamentary constituency as at 9 January 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available.
Comparisons of unemployment over the period specified are difficult to make because of changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data. The table also shows the numbers of unemployed registrants aged under 25 years in England and Wales, and for the jobcentre areas which closely correspond to the Merseyside metropolitan area and the travel-to-work area as defined in 1978, in April 1979 (not available for May 1979.
Unemployed aged under 25 years Number of claimants Unemployed claimants—January 1986 England and Wales 1,052,984 Merseyside metropolitan area 54,875 Liverpool travel-to-work area 42,239 Liverpool Riverside parliamentary constituency 4,740 Unemployed registrants—April 1979 England and Wales 361,058 Merseyside 31,567 Former Liverpool travel-to-work area 23,400
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General (1) what was the level of long-term unemployment in the Liverpool, Riverside constituency at the latest date; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list the number of long-term unemployed on Merseyside at the latest date and the comparative figures for May 1979;
(3) if he will list the number of long-term unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date and the comparable figures for May 1979;
(4) what is the number of long-term unemployed in England and Wales at the latest date and the comparable figures for May 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. The table gives the numbers of unemployed claimants in England and Wales, Merseyside metropolitan area, the Liverpool travel-to-work area and the Liverpool,148W Riverside parliamentary constituency who had been unemployed for over 12 months as at 9 January 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available.
Comparisons of unemployment over the period specified are difficult to make because of changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data. The table also shows the numbers of registrants who had been unemployed for over 12 months in April 1979 (not available for May 1979) in England and Wales, and for the jobcentre areas which closely correspond to the Merseyside metropolitan area and the travel-to-work area as defined in 1978.
Unemployed over 12 months Number of claimants Unemployed claimants—January 1986 England and Wales 1,164,339 Merseyside Metropolitan area 72,522 Liverpool travel-to-work area 55,814 Liverpool Riverside parliamentary constituency 7,363 Unemployed registrants—April 1979 England and Wales 301,217 Merseyside 30,088 Former Liverpool travel-to-work area 22,782
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General what plans he has to reduce long-term unemployment in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangWe shall be spending £1,200 million this year on specific measures to give practical help to long-term unemployed people. This includes the restart programme under which, from July, every long-term unemployed person will be offered individual positive help towards employment. The full range of measures to encourage employment, training and enterprise are described in our booklet "Action for Jobs — opening more doors."
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General what plans he has to reduce youth unemployment in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierA reduction in youth unemployment in England and Wales depends on a sustained improvement in the performance of industry, business and the economy as a whole. Our economic policies are designed to create the conditions for that improvement and we are making substantial progress. We also need levels of pay which ensure the competitiveness of our industry.
Our employment and training measures such as two-year YTS and the recently announced new workers scheme will particularly help the employment prospects of young people.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General what plans he has to reduce youth unemployment in the Liverpool travelto-work area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierA reduction in youth unemployment in Liverpool depends on a sustained improvement in the performance of industry, business and the economy as a whole. Our economic policies are designed to create the conditions for that improvement and we are making substantial progress. We also need levels of pay which ensure the competitiveness of our industry.
149WOur employment and training measures such as two-year YTS and the recently announced new workers scheme will particularly help the employment prospects of young people.
The Government are directing special help to particularly hard hit areas such as Liverpool. Since May 1979 Liverpool has received over £170 million in regional assistance.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General (1) how many job vacancies there were on Merseyside at the latest date; and what was the figure for May 1979;
(2) how many job vacancies there were in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date; and what was the figure for May 1979.
§ Mr. LangOn 4 April 1986 there were 3,098 unfilled vacancies at jobcentres and 80 unfilled vacancies at careers offices closely corresponding to the Merseyside metropolitan area, and 2,429 and 80 unfilled vacancies respectively at offices corresponding to the Liverpool travel-to-work area (including self-employed vacancies and excluding vacancies handled by professional and executive recruitment). Comparisons with May 1979 are difficult to make because of changes in the method of compilation of the data. However, the numbers of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres and careers offices corresponding to the Merseyside metropolitan area in May 1979 were 3,916 and 151, respectively. On the same date there were 2,406 unfilled vacancies at jobcentres and 71 unfilled vacancies at careers offices corresponding to the Liverpool travel-to-work area as defined in 1978 (excluding self-employed vacancies and including vacancies handled by professional and executive recruitment).
§ Mr. Parryasked the Paymaster General (1) how many people were unemployed in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at the latest date; and what were the figures for May 1979;
(2) how many persons were unemployed on Merseyside at the latest date; and what were the figures for May 1979.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. On 10 April 1986 the numbers of unemployed claimants in the Liverpool travel-to-work area and the Merseyside metropolitan area were 106,432 and 140,371, respectively. Comparisons with May 1979 are difficult to make because of changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data. However, in May 1979, the number of unemployed registrants in jobcentre areas closely corresponding to the Liverpool travel-to-work area, as defined in 1978, and the Merseyside metropolitan area were 57,060 and 79,644, respectively.
§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Paymaster General, further to his answer on 6 May, Official Report, column 34, regarding the errors made by Central Regional council in submitting its returns for the 1981 census of employment, if he will list the effects on all the relevant travel-to-work areas of the published unemployment figures.
§ Mr. Lang[pursuant to his reply, 15 May 1986, c. 504]: The following table shows the effect on the unemployment rates in the relevant travel-to-work areas for 10 April 1986.
150W
Published rate using revised denominator Rate using uncorrected denominator Difference Stirling male 18.4 16.2 +2.2 female 10.0 7.7 +2.3 total 14.2 11.7 +2.5 Falkirk male 19.2 20.1 -0.9 female 13.8 16.0 -2.2 total 17.0 18.6 -1.6 Alloa male 20.9 21.8 -0.9 female 13.3 16.0 -2.7 total 18.0 19.8 -1.8 The effects of the revision on the unemployment rates will vary over time.