§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parliamentary constituencies have levels of unemployment of 2 per cent. or less. [73075]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownThe number of constituencies with claimant unemployment rates of 2 per cent. or less is 187. In 1997 there were only 44.
Our policies have reduced claimant unemployment by over 40 per cent. in the last five years. And it is not just these constituencies that have benefited; unemployment has fallen in every area across the country.
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