HC Deb 10 January 1995 vol 252 cc34-6W
22. Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in Workington.

Mr. Oppenheim

In November 1994, unadjusted claimant unemployment in the Workington parliamentary constituency stood at 3,482, a fall of 5.9 per cent. over the year.

27. Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of unemployment nationally as indicated by the labour force survey; and what is the difference between this and the claimant total issued by his Department.

Mr. Oppenheim

On the seasonally adjusted basis, the summer 1994 labour force survey shows that 2.64 million people were unemployed in Great Britain under the International Labour Organisation definition, while the average claimant count figure over the same period stood at 2.53 million, a difference of 112,000.

Mr. Butler

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to what he attributes the fall in unemployment in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Portillo

Britain's unemployment has fallen faster than that of any other European country because we have pursued sound economic policies based on permanently low inflation and a deregulated, flexible labour market, combined with active measures to help people back to work.

Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current rates of unemployment in each EU nation; and what were the figures(a) one and (b) five years previously.

Mr. Oppenheim

Internationally comparable unemployment rates based on the standardised International Labour Organisation definition of unemployment are published by EUROSTAT in its monthly "Unemployment Bulletin," copies of which are available in the Library. The information requested for each member of the EU as at the end of 1994 is given in the following table:

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in EU countries
Latest month (October 1994) Last Year (October 1993) Five Years ago (October 1989)
Spain 22.1 22.5 16.7
France 11.3 11.1 9.2
Ireland 17.6 18.4 15.1
Italy 12.1 11.3 10.6
Luxembourg 3.5 2.8 2.0
Netherlands 310.0 9.5 8.3
Portugal 6.1 5.5 4.8
United Kingdom 8.9 10.3 6.9
EC Average 10.7 10.8 8.7

Notes:

1 No ILO rate available for unified Germany. The above rates are for the former West Germany.

2 Only 1991 annual average figures available for Greece.

3 The latest rate shown is for September 1994.

Source:

Statistical Office of the European Community Unemployment Bulletin.

Sir Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 756, what was the total cost of unemployment to the Government in (a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93, together with the cost per person unemployed.

Mr. Oppenheim

Total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain and the average benefit per person is shown in the following table:

Table 1. Expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain
Financial year Total expenditure £ millions Average expenditure per claimant per financial year £1
1989–90 4,501 2,800
1990–91 5,290 3,180
1991–92 7,558 3,210
1992–93 8,973 3,260
1993–94 9,720 3,510
1 Rounded to nearest £10.

The figures for total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed are taken from the Social Security Statistics 1994 published by the Department of Social Security. They differ slightly from those given in reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary which were based on the DSS departmental report. The DSS has subsequently revised its estimates. The average expenditure figure is derived by dividing the total expenditure by the average number of the seasonally unadjusted claimant count during the financial year.

Sir Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage change in the total cost of unemployment between(a) 1989–90 and 1990–91, (b) 1990–91 and 1991–92, (c) 1991–92 and 1992–93 and (d) 1992–93 and 1993–94.

Mr. Oppenheim

Total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain, and the annual change is shown in the following table:

Table 1. Expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain
Financial year Total expenditure £ millions Percentage change on previous year
1989–90 4,501 —
1990–91 5,290 + 18
1991–92 7,558 + 43
1992–93 8,973 + 19
1993–94 9,720 + 8

The figures for total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed are taken from the "Social Security Statistics 1994", page 3.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of 16 and 17-year-olds not in full-time education and without a job or training scheme(a) in spring 1994 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in each part of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Paice

[holding answer 20 December 1994]: I have written to the hon. Member and placed a copy of my reply in the Library.