§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic activity rate was among(a) men aged 50 to 54, (b) men aged 55 to 59, (c) men aged 60 to 64, (d) men aged 65 to 69, (e) men aged 70 and over, (f) women aged 50 to 54, (g) women aged 55 to 59, (h) women aged 60 to 64, (i) women aged 65 to 69 and 341W (j) women aged 70 years and over in each of the four quarters for which he has the most recent data (i) in the UK and (ii) in each of the parliamentary constituencies in Wirral. [146892]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 23 January 2001]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Frank Field, dated 2 February 2001:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the economic activity rate in the UK and the Wirral for men and women in various age groups (146892).The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the main source of labour market data on individuals used by National Statistics. Information from the LFS on economic activity rates can be derived on a quarterly basis for the UK and on an annual basis for parliamentary constituencies. The most recent data has been given for both. Economic activity rates in the Wirral are not available for the age groups requested. However, they are available for people aged 16 and over and these have been given.The tables overleaf show the economic activity rates (i) in the UK for men and women in various age groups from winter (December-February) 1999/2000 to autumn (September-November) 2000 and (ii) in the Wirral from March 1999 to February 2000.According to the LFS definition, the economically active are people aged 16 and over who are either in employment or International Labour Organisation unemployed. The activity rate is those economically active as a percentage of all persons 16 and over.
Activity rates by age and sex for people aged 50 and over; UK; winter 1999–2000 to autumn 2000; not seasonally adjusted—United Kingdom Percentage All persons Men Women Winter 1999–2000 All aged 50 and over 36.0 44.4 28.9 50–54 79.2 86.0 72.4 55–59 65.6 74.5 56.9 60–64 37.4 49.2 26.1 65–69 11.4 13.9 9.1 70 and over 2.9 4.7 1.7 Spring 2000 All aged 50 and over 36.3 44.8 29.0 50–54 79.5 86.2 72.7 55–59 66.1 74.8 57.6 60–64 37.8 50.3 25.9 65–69 11.6 14.9 8.5 70 and over 2.7 4.5 1.6 Summer 2000 All aged 50 and over 36.4 44.7 29.2 50–54 79.2 86.0 72.5 55–59 66.3 74.6 58.2 60–64 38.4 51.1 26.2 65–69 11.4 14.4 8.7 70 and over 2.7 4.3 1.6 Autumn 2000 All aged 50 and over 36.4 44.8 29.3 50–54 79.1 85.8 72.4 55–59 66.7 74.9 58.6 60–64 38.4 50.9 26.5 65–69 11.4 14.8 8.4 70 and over 2.6 4.1 1.5 Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey 342W
Activity rates in the Wirral and each of its four parliamentary constituencies; for all aged 16+; March 1999-February 2000; not seasonally adjusted Percentage All aged 16+ Wirral 54 Birkenhead 54.8 Wallasey 52.5 Wirral South 58.6 Wirral West 50.3 Source:
ONS Labour Force Survey