HC Deb 16 May 1978 vol 950 cc127-8W
Mr. Craigen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the numbers of unemployed males and females in each of the employment registers of the United Kingdom in March during the past 10 years who were classified as general labourers in occupation Group XVIII.

Mr. Golding

The following table gives the numbers of unemployed people in the United Kingdom who were registered at employment offices for employment as general labourers at March each year. Comparable information is not available for earlier years from 1973. The figures from March 1976 exclude adult students.

Males Females
March 1973 274,194 21,218
March 1974 237,312 18,431
March 1975 277,367 29,818
March 1976 390,294 55,286
March 1977 391,684 63,990
March 1978 407,809 72,834

Separate figures for each employment office in the United Kingdom could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Miscampbell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the percentage of unemployment in Wirral;

(2) what is the percentage of unemployment in Bolton;

(3) what is the percentage of unemployment in Blackpool;

(4) what is the percentage of unemployment in Oldham.

Mr. Golding

Unemployment rates can be calculated only for complete travel to work areas and the following table gives rates for the appropriate travel-to-work areas at 13th April:

Per cent.
Liverpool (which includes the Wirral) 11.4
Bolton 5.7
Blackpool 7.7
Oldham 4.7