§ Miss Maynardasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the figures for the numbers of registered unemployed in Northern Ireland for each of the last 10 years; and how these compare with the figures for unemployment in the Republic of Ireland over the same period.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply of 13th February—[Official Report, Vol. 363W 944, col. 89]—gave the following information:
The average numbers of registered unemployed in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for each of the last 10 years were as follows:
Year Number Unemployed in Northern Ireland Numbers Registered Unemployed in the Republic of Ireland 1968 36,406 58,100 1969 36,871 57,000 1970 35,403 64,900 1971 40,364 62,500 1972 40,364 72,000
Year Number Unemployed in Northern Ireland Numbers Registered Unemployed in the Republic of Ireland 1973 31,116 66,600 1974 29,899 72,000 1975 41,950 104,400 1976 54,870 112,800 1977 60,932 111,900 The figures quoted for Northern Ireland are not directly comparable because of differences of definition and in the relevant legislation in the Republic of Ireland. The numbers of registered unemployed in the Republic of Ireland are
£ million 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 * 1. Social Services† … … … … 31 — — — — 2. Health Services† … … … … 15 — — — — 3. Regional Employment Premium† … … 8 — — — — 4. Remoteness Grant (Agriculture) … … 2 2 2 2 — 5. Agricultural subsidies paid by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food … 36 37 22 32 24 6. National Insurance … … … … 26 42 38 56 64 7. Grant in aid … … … … … 175 199 351 360 480‡ 8. Northern Ireland Office—Reserved Services … … … 20 109 152 170 175 9. Refund of VAT … … … … 1 4 6 5 5 Total Payments … … … … … 314 393 571 625 748 * Estimated. †Incorporated in grant in aid from 1974. ‡Does not include £250 million to cover the redemption of Northern Ireland Electricity Services borrowings. Military costs are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for
364Was published in "OECD—Main Economic Indicators".