§ Ms JowellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total number of people registered unemployed in(a) Dulwich, (b) Luton and (c) Swindon, on 1 April 1996 and in each of the last five years; and what percentage this represented of the total work force; [32683]
(2) how many people are unemployed and claiming benefit in (a) Dulwich, (b) Luton and (c) Swindon; and how many of these will qualify for the new jobseeker's allowance. [32686]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightThe latest figures show that in May 1996, on the unadjusted basis, claimant unemployment in the Dulwich constituency, and the556W Swindon constituency stood at 4,539 and 4,147 respectively. The figures for Luton relate to the local authority area only and stand at 7,360.
It is not possible to determine how many of the people who are currently claimant unemployed will be entitled to jobseeker's allowance in October. If, however, their circumstances remain unchanged until October, they will transfer to JSA.
Further information on the number of people claimant unemployed in the areas requested can be obtained from the Nomis database accessed by the House of Commons Library.
Comparisons with the April 1966 figures will be affected by the changeover in January 1996 from a 1981–based ward geography to a 1991—based geography. The estimated effect of this rebasing exercise on each of these areas was the change their (January 1996) levels as follows: Dulwich, -7; Luton, -34; Swindon, +96.