§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the percentage of(a) female and (b) male unemployment in 1985, 1986 and 1987 in Wales.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe seasonally adjusted number of unemployed claimants, expressed as a percentage of the working population, is as follows:
Percentage of unemployed—Wales (annual averages) 1985 1986 1987 Male 16.5 16.5 15.5 Female 10.6 10.9 9.2 Source: Department of Employment.
232W
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the percentage change in unemployment in (i) Wales and (ii) Clwyd since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Walker[holding answer 13 June 1988]: On a consistent seasonally adjusted basis, the number of unemployed claimants in Wales in May 1979 was 73,100 and in May 1988 132,200, an increase of 80.8 per cent. Comparable figures for the same period for Clwyd are not available.
Unadjusted unemployment claimant figures, which are affected by changes in coverage, are available for Clwyd since June 1983. These show a decrease of 24.5 per cent. over the period to May 1988. Comparable figures for Wales show a fall of 18.1 per cent. I am pleased that unemployment in Wales has now gone down every month for the last 24 months.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of part-time workers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter Walker[holding answer 13 June 1988]: The most recent estimates of the total number of part-time workers in Wales is provided by the 1984 census of employment. This indicates that in September 1984 there were 192,000 part-time workers.