HC Deb 11 July 1988 vol 137 cc37-8W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to adopt the system of measuring unemployment recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Mr. Lee

In common with most countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), my Department's monthly unemployment figures are based on administrative records. However, my Department also publishes annual estimates of unemployment according to the International Labour Organisation's guidelines as interpreted by the OECD.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in theOfficial Report, for each of the last five years, for Great Britain and for the north-west region, the percentage and numerical increase in the size of the labour force, together with the percentage and numerical fall in unemployment.

Mr. Lee

Table A shows the level of the civilian working population (employees in employment, the self-employed and the unemployed) together with the change over the previous year expressed numerically and as a percentage for June of each year from 1983 to 1987 for Great Britain and the north-west region. Table B shows corresponding figures according to the seasonally adjusted series of unemployed claimants.

Table A
Civilian working population in Great Britain—1983–1987
June Number (000 S) Change over year (000's) Percentage change over year
1983 25,603 -86 -0.3
1984 26,087 484 1.9
1985 26,613 526 2.0
1986 26,759 146 0.6
1987 26,898 139 0.5
Civilian working population in the North West region—1983–87
1983 2,950 -33 -1.1
1984 2,973 23 0.8
1985 2,994 21 0.7
1986 2,973 -21 -0.7
1987 2,940 -33 -1.1

Table B
Unemployed claimants in Great Britain—1983–1987 seasonally adjusted excluding school leavers, allowing for changes in coverage
June Number (000's) Change over year (000's) Percentage change over year
1983 2,776 270 10.8
1984 2,865 89 3.2
1985 2,992 127 4.4
1986 3,083 91 3.0
1987 2,797 -286 -9.3

Unemployed claimants in the North West region—1983–1987 seasonally adjusted excluding school leavers, allowing for changes in coverage
1983 410 36 9.6
1984 418 9 2.1

June Number (000's) Change over year (000's) Percentage change over year
1985 430 11 2.7
1986 438 8 1.9
1987 399 -39 -8.8