§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 June (WA 53), concerning unemployment in Northern Ireland, why there are no research findings available to explain the differences observed in unemployment rates between denominations within the Protestant community; and what steps they have taken to identify the factors responsible for such differences. [HL4022]
§ Lord Williams of MostynOfficial government statistics show observed differences in unemployment rates between denominations within the Protestant community. Research in this area is affected by both measurement difficulties and the complexity of labour market dynamics. Measurement instruments such as sample surveys disaggregated by Protestant denomination usually cannot be sufficiently precise to separately identify real differences and differences clue to sampling or other survey features. This is particularly so when we are seeking to comment on marginal changes in unemployment based on Labour Force Survey data.
Therefore under these circumstances any speculation regarding the factors responsible and their relative impact will remain inconclusive. The results from the 2001 Census will enable a comparison of the unemployment rates between the Protestant denominations; however this will require the sample of anonymised records, due to be released later in 2003. Further, while such an analysis will enable comparisons of observed unemployment rates, it may not explain any such differences.
111WA
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Across the four largest Christian denominations in Northern Ireland, in how many (a) parliamentary constituencies and (b) local government district areas was the highest male unemployment rate found among those giving their religion in the 2001 Census as (i) Catholic/Roman Catholic (ii) Presbyterian, (iii) Church of Ireland and (iv) Methodist. [HL4023]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn(a) Among males aged 16 to 74 within the four largest Christian denominations in Northern Ireland, those who gave their religion in the 2001 Census as Catholic1 had the highest unemployment rate in 10 out of the 18 parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland. Those who gave their religion as Church of Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in the remaining 8 parliamentary constituencies. In none of the parliamentary constituencies was the unemployment rate found to be highest among those who gave their religion as Presbyterian Church in Ireland or Methodist Church in Ireland.
(b) Among males aged 16 to 74 within the four largest Christian denominations in Northern Ireland, those who gave their religion in the 2001 Census as Catholic1 had the highest unemployment rate in 17 out of the 26 local government districts in Northern Ireland. Those who gave their religion as Church of Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in the remaining 9 local government districts. In none of the local government districts was the unemployment rate found to be highest among those who gave their religion as Presbyterian Church in Ireland or Methodist Church in Ireland.
1 The term Catholic includes those respondents who gave their religion as Catholic or Roman Catholic.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Across the three largest Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland, in how many (a) parliamentary constituencies and (b) local government district areas was the highest male unemployment rate found among those giving their religion in the 2001 Census as (i) Presbyterian, (ii) Church of Ireland and (iii) Methodist. [HL4024]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn(a) Among males aged 16 to 74 within the three largest Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland, those who gave their religion in the 2001 Census as Church of Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in 16 out of the 18 parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland. Those who gave their religion as Methodist Church in Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in the remaining 2 parliamentary constituencies. In none of the parliamentary constituencies was the unemployment rate found to be highest among those who gave their religion as Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
112WA(b) Among males aged 16 to 74 within the three largest Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland, those who gave their religion in the 2001 Census as Church of Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in 22 out of the 26 local government districts in Northern Ireland. Those who gave their religion as Methodist Church in Ireland had the highest unemployment rate in the remaining 4 local government districts. In none of the local government districts was the unemployment rate found to be highest among those who gave their religion as Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are committed to progressively eliminating the differentials in unemployment rates between different denominations within the Protestant community in Northern Ireland; and what measurement techniques they intend to use to assess progress in this. [HL4025]
§ Lord Williams of MostynSocio-economic differences exist across a range of social categories and groups. The new TSN policy aims to address inequalities wherever they exist. The recently completed interim evaluation of new TSN contains recommendations for the monitoring of disadvantage including unemployment rates. Subject to public consultation on the future of the policy, these recommendations will be considered in due course.