§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list on the basis of (i) the Government's unemployment benefit count and (ii) the labour force survey(a) the number in employment in the United Kingdom, (b) the number unemployed, (c) the number economically inactive and (d) the unemployment rates in the United Kingdom, for each quarter between 1979 and the end of 1984. [13076]
119W
§ Mrs. Angela KnightEstimates available from the labour force survey are shown in the table.
Economic activity in the United Kingdom In Unemployment Unemployed1 Economically inactive Unemployment rates (percentage) Spring 1979 24,765,000 21,490,000 15,924,000 5.7 Spring 1981 24,153,000 22,583,000 16,274,000 9.7 Spring 1983 23,490,000 22,957,000 17,065,000 11.2 Spring 1984 24,019,000 23,030,000 16,794,000 11.2 Spring 19843 — 33,216,000 16,608,000 11.8 1Since 1984 the definitions used in the Labour Force Survey have been fully in line with international recommendations. Prior to 1984 the definition of unemployment was based on a one week job search period and from 1984 was based on a four week job search. 2The Labour Force definition of unemployment is based on a one-week job search period. 3The ILO (International Labour Organisation) definition of unemployment is based on a four week job search period. Information from the monthly claimant unemployment count on levels and rates of unemployment in the United Kingdom can be obtained from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.