§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have experienced at least one period of unemployment since 1979. [3936]
§ Mr. AncramThe information requested is available only from October 1993. In the three-year period to October 1996, 196,787 people have made at least one new claim for unemployment-related benefit.
§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the unemployment figures on the basis of the current statistical definition in each of the last 10 years in Northern Ireland. [3944]
§ Mr. AncramThe unemployment figures on the basis of the current statistical definition in each of the last 10 years in Northern Ireland were as follows:
606W
Year Annual average figure Percentage of the work force 1987 120,400 16.4 1988 111,100 15.0 1989 103,300 14.0 1990 95,300 12.8 1991 99,100 12.9 1992 104,700 13.8 1993 103,700 13.7 1994 97,100 12.6 1995 88,100 11.4 19961 85,800 11.1 1 January to October.
§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the population of working age in Northern Ireland were unemployed in each year since 1979. [3945]
§ Mr. AncramThe information, which is available on a consistent only basis from 1984, is as follows:
Percentage working age population unemployed (ILO definition) Spring 1984 12.1 1985 11.7 1986 11.6 1987 11.0 1988 10.2 1989 9.3 1990 8.7 1991 9.0 1992 9.1 1993 9.1 1994 8.3 1995 8.0 1996 7.1 Source:
Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey, spring 1984 to spring 1996.