§ Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the registered number of unemployed in(a) the former Chipping Barnet constituency area and (b) the new enlarged area for (i) April and (ii) May; and if he will make a statement. [6425]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Mr. Tim Holt to Sir Sydney Chapman, dated 7 July 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the numbers registered unemployed in the former Chipping Burnet constituency area and the new enlarged area.320WThe data you have requested can only be derived from the monthly count of people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Jobseekers Allowance or National Insurance credits). Essentially, all people who attend an Employment Service office to sign on the designated day are counted.The data you have requested is shown in the attached table.The 1991 Chipping Barnet constituency contains the following wards:
- Arkley
- Brunswick Park
- East Barnet
- Hadley
- Totteridge
In addition to the wards listed above, the 1995 constituency also contains Friern Barnet.
Number of persons claiming unemployment-related benefits, April and May 1997 Former Chipping Barnet constituency area (1991 boundaries) New Chipping Barnet constituency area (1995 boundaries) April 1997 1,597 1,955 May 1997 1,541 1,881