§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he makes for each year since 1979 of(a) the total population of working age regardless of whether or not they were in work and (b) the percentage of the population which was not in work whether or not they were looking for work.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe information requested is as follows:
Population of working age in Northern Ireland percentage not in employment 1979–19911 Year Population of working age (000s)2 Percentage not in employment3 1979 859 35.5 1981 874 38.8 1983 888 41.5 1984 898 41.5 1985 906 41.8 1986 915 40.1 1987 923 40.6 1988 927 38.6 1989 932 37.2 1990 938 36.2 1 Population of working age figures are general registrar's office mid-year estimates. The percentage not in employment is based on estimates from the labour force survey. This surve was not conducted in 1980 and 1982. 2 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59. 3 Unemployed plus economically inactive as a percentage of population of working age.