§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) percentage and (b) numerical change in the number of unemployed disabled people was between (i) 1 May 1997 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [143372]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 11 May 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question about the percentage and numerical change in the number of unemployed disabled people between May 1997 and the latest available data (143372). I am replying in his absence.The available data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are on a consistent basis only from spring (March to May) 1998.Between Spring 1998 and Spring 2000, the number of employed disabled people increased, so that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment rate for disabled people (the proportion of economically active working age people who are ILO unemployed) fell from 11.3% in Spring 1908 to 10.3% in Spring 426W 2000. During the same period, the number of ILO unemployed people in the UK of working age with a disability increased by 17,000 (4.8%).This information has been taken from the Labour Force Survey, National Statistics' main source of labour market data on individuals. The LFS identifies whether respondents have a current long-term disability covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) or a work-limiting disability. Both categories have been included to give a comprehensive and coherent coverage of disability.The measure of unemployment derived from the LFS is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the ILO. It counts as unemployed people who are (a) without a paid job, (b) available to start work within the next two weeks, and (c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained.