HC Deb 06 March 1978 vol 945 cc504-5W
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, on the same basis as those contained in the table published in Written Answers, Official Report, 22nd February 1977, column 557.

Mr. Golding

Separate unemployment rates for the private and public sectors can be calculated only in an imprecise way by allocating the figures for each Minimum List Headings of the Standard Industrial Classification to the sector appropriate to the majority in each heading. On this basis, the percentages in Great Britan for February were 5.9 in the private sector and 3.1 in the public sector.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the last year in which average unemployment was as high as it was on average, in 1977.

Mr. Golding

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.