§ 35. Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of unemployed in each local office area in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. ViggersThe information is as follows:
Local office area (Jobmarket area) Number of unemployed claimants1 October 1985 October 1986 October 1987 Antrim 3,802 3,775 3,455 Armagh 3,073 3,369 3,228 Ballymena 3,790 4,228 4,037 Ballymoney 2,692 3,137 2,889 Ballynahinch 801 878 843 Banbridge 2,095 2,214 2,144 Bangor 2,945 3,089 3,008 Belfast 38,960 41,994 40,050 Carrickfergus 2,272 2,524 2,236 Coleraine 3,941 4,407 4,130 Cookstown 2,272 2,307 2,189 Downpatrick 1,450 1,555 1,597 Dungannon 3,588 3,832 3,721 Enniskillen 4,480 4,853 4,627 Kilkeel 751 836 772 Larne 2,117 2,296 2,021 Limavady 2,318 2,550 2,424 Lisburn 4,265 4,588 4,176 Londonderry 10,021 10,389 9,956 Lurgan 3,841 4,172 3,843 Magherafelt 3,031 3,165 3,130 Newcastle 1,110 1,172 1,114 Newry 6,189 6,463 6,317 Newtownards 2,646 2,896 2,721 Omagh 3,105 3,454 3,465 Portadown 2,504 2,575 2,660 Strabane 3,763 3,917 3,948 Northern Ireland 121,822 130,635 124,701 1 There was a change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986, which provided a more accurate and consistent measure of the numbers claiming benefits. This change consisted of compiling the statistics 3 weeks, rather than 1 week, after the specified count date each month. It resulted in the count being lower by an estimated average of 2,100 per month in Northern Ireland.