HC Deb 01 March 1977 vol 927 cc159-61W
17. Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many of the last 30 months the numbers of unemployed has not risen.

Mr. Booth

Since September 1974 monthly counts of the numbers unemployed in Great Britain decreased on eight occasions. The seasonally adjusted series shows a decrease on two occasions.

19. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the number and proportion of unemployed under 18 years of age, under 21 years of age, under 30 years of age, over 50 years of age, and over 60 years of age, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Golding

I circulate below a table showing the information available for 13th January. The proportion of unemployment amongst young people has increased in the present recession; for this reason many of the Government's special measures have been directed towards this particular group.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN GREAT BRITAIN AT 13TH JANUARY 1977 ANALYSED BY AGE RANGES
Number Percentage of total
Under 18 122,366 8.8
18–19 129,962 9.3
20–24 254,916 18.3
25–29 178,106 12.8
50–59 174,723 12.6
60 and over 139,977 10.1

30. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Golding

At 10th February the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 1,365,158. The fall in unemployment is welcome, but it would be premature to conclude that a downward trend has been established until the numbers of unemployed have fallen for some months.

32. Mr. Bulmer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much unemployment has increased since the present Government took office in February 1974.

Mr. Golding

Between 11th February 1974 and 10th February 1977 the numbers registered as unemployed in Great Britain rose by 765,965.

Mr. George Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current figure for unemployment for young persons below the age of 20 years in the Northern Region and the Mid-Northumberland local employment areas, respectively; and how many have been unemployed for more than six months.

Mr. Golding

At 13th January the number of young people under 20 years of age unemployed in the North Region was 20,883 of whom 6,823 had been registered for more than 26 weeks. The corresponding figures for Mid-Northumberland were 952 and 280.

Mr. George Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers and percentages of unemployed, by sex, in the Northern Region and Mid-

Numbers unemployed Percentage rates of unemployment
Males Females Males Females
North Region 77,204 28,663 9.3 5.7
Mid-Northumberland 3,101 991 9.7 5.5
The figures are provisional.

Mr. John H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are now unemployed; what is the annual rate of expenditure on unemployment and social security benefits of all types to those not earning incomes due to employment; and how this figure compares with each of the previous five years.

Mr. Golding

At 10th February the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 1,365,158. I am informed by the Secretary of State for Social Services that expenditure on unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit to the unemployed in the current financial year is estimated at £1,128 million and expenditure in the previous five years was as follows:

Year £ million
1971–72 387
1972–73 392
1973–74 333
1974–75 404
1975–76 784

Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures for the percentage unemployed in the public and private sectors of the economy in February 1977, on the same basis as those contained in the table published in Written Answers, Official Report, 22nd February 1977, column 557.

Mr. Golding

The latest information available at present is for August 1976. I will reply to the hon. Member in a few days when figures for February 1977 become available.