§ 6. Mr. Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the percentage unemployed: (a) in the private sector and (b) in the public sector.
§ Mr. BoothI regret that this information is not available. My Department's unemployment statistics are analysed according to the Standard Industrial Classification and this does not distinguish precisely between the private and public sectors.
§ 9. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Employment by how many the number of unemployed rose or fell between: (a) 26th July 1945 and 26th October 1951, (b) 16th October 1964 and 19th June 1970 and (c) 4th March 1974 and the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. BoothIn the periods specified, unemployment in Great Britain increased by 122,000, 183,000 and 663,000, respectively.
§ 19. Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the employment exchanges in Wales currently have an unemployment rate for men in excess of 15 per cent.
§ Mr. John FraserAt 12th February there were nine employment offices or travel-to-work areas in Wales with male unemployment rates in excess of 15 per cent.
§ 20. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the United Kingdom expressed as a percentage of the total work force and in comparison with the relevant figures for Germany and Japan.
§ Mr. BoothThe number unemployed in February expressed as a percentage of the total civilian labour force was 5.2 per cent. in the United Kingdom and 5.1 per cent. in Germany. The latest available data for Japan relates to November 1975 when the unemployment rate was 1.8 per cent. These rates are not directly comparable owing to differences in coverage and in the method of collection of unemployment statistics.
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§ 21. Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of dockers registered as unemployed on 31st January 1976.
§ Mr. BoothAt 12th February, 4,295 unemployed males in Great Britain last worked in the port and inland water transport industry. The number of dockers included in this figure is not available.
§ 26. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that every possibility for reducing the number of persons unemployed is being explored.
§ Mr. FootYes. We examine every possibility but if my hon. Friends have further fresh suggestions we will examine them too.
§ 29. Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he proposes to take to protect employment in the Bristol area.
§ Mr. John FraserBristol is already benefiting from the various measures which the Government have introduced to mitigate the worst effects of unemployment.
§ 30. Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Employment what level he now expects unemployment to reach during 1976.
§ Mr. FootI have already expressed our anxieties about the increase in unemployment, in seasonally-adjusted terms, over the next few months, but it is not the practice of this Administration nor has it been that of previous ones, to publish detailed forecasts for periods further ahead.
§ 32. Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of unemployment in the United Kingdom.
§ 35. Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now make a further statement on the current level of unemployment.
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§ 36. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present levels of unemployment among school leavers in the Borders.
§ Mr. John FraserThe figure of 57 school leavers registered as unemployed in February is unacceptably high, but young people in the area should benefit from the special Government measures to assist the employment and training of school leavers and young people generally.
§ 37. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment what specific proposals he has for stimulating employment in the West Midlands, and especially in the Wolverhampton area.
§ Mr. John FraserBoth Wolverhampton and the West Midlands as a whole are benefiting from the various measures which the Government has taken to alleviate the worst effects of unemployment.
§ 40. Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Employment what increase or decrease there has been in the level of unemployment in the United Kingdom since January 1976; and what steps he is taking to alleviate the situation.
§ Mr. FootUnemployment in the United Kingdom decreased from 1,430,369 in January to 1,304,416 in February, a decrease of 125,953. After seasonal adjustment, however, there was an increase from 1,210,500 in January to 1,232,500 in February, an increase of 22,000. The Government have introduced a number of measures to alleviate the situation, the latest of which were announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the estimated unemployment figures for June, July, August and September 1975 calculated on the new proposed method of excluding from such figures unemployed students; and if he will also provide a comparison of the revised 478W figures and those calculated on the old basis.
§ Mr. BoothFollowing is the information for Great Britain:
Numbers unemployed excluding Adult Students Numbers unemployed excluding Adult Students June 1975 … 828,473 831,322 July 1975 … 944,382 1,036,345 August 1975 … 1,101,984 1,195,448 September 1975 … 1,096,902 1,194,301
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress he has now made towards the reduction of unemployment from the level existing when he took office in March 1974.
§ Mr. FootThe level of unemployment is more than twice as high as in March 1974. This is a phenomenon which is affecting most of the industrialised nations of the world. Unemployment would undoubtedly have been worse but for the measures we have taken over the past two years.