HC Deb 08 April 2003 vol 403 cc146-7W
Mr. Ivan Henderson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the unemployment figures were in the Harwich constituency in each year since 1996. [107711]

Ruth Kelly

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Ivan Henderson, dated 8 April 2003:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on what the unemployment figures were in the Harwich constituency in each year since 1996. (107711)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from surveys following the international standard International Labour Organisation definition. However the survey sample size is too small to provide estimates for the Harwich Parliamentary Constituency. ONS also compiles claimant count statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance.

The attached table gives the annual average number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in the Harwich Parliamentary Constituency for the years 1996 to 2002.

Annual average level number of claimants in the Harwich Parliamentary Constituency for the year 1996 to 2002
year Levels
1996 3,669
1997 2,654
1998 2,276
1999 1,987
2000 1,775
2001 1,493
2002 1,449