Unemployment (Hansard, 20 February 1979)

§ 19. Mr. Knox
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment at the most recent count; and what was the comparable figure in the same month in 1974.

§ Mr. Booth
At 8 February, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 1,387,761 compared with 599,193 in February 1974.

§ 20. Mr. Cryer
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the general trend of unemployment.

§ Mr. Booth
The underlying trend of unemployment in this country in 1978 was downward. Its future course will depend very much on our success in dealing with inflation and in making industry more competitive.

§ 27. Mr. Marten
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom expressed as a percent age.

§ Mr. Golding
At 8 February, the provisional unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was 6.1 per cent.

§ 28. Mr. Townsend
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on what new measures he proposes to reduce unemployment.

§ 32. Mr. Rooker
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

§ 33. Mr. Skinner
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he has for reducing unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

§ 38. Mr. Arnold
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest 99W figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Golding
I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to my right hon. Friend's reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hills-borough (Mr. Flannery).

§ 29. Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the number of unemployed men in the age groups 30 to 35, 35 to 40, 40 to 45, 45 to 50, 50 to 55, 55 to 60, and 60 to 65 years; and what proportions these figures are of the potential male working force in these age groups.

§ Mr. Golding
The January 1979 figures for unemployed men and estimated unemployment rates by age are:

GREAT BRITAIN

Age group Numbers unemployed Unemployment rate Per cent.

30–34 … … 100,854 6.5

35–44 … … 142,152 5.4

45–49 … … 63,470 4.8

50–54 … … 65,728 4.7

55–59 … … 75,837 6.2

60–64 … … 131,634 12.6

Note: While the figures are presented to one decimal place, they should not be regarded as implying precision to that degree.

GREAT BRITAIN
Age group	Numbers unemployed	Unemployment rate Per cent.
30–34	…	…	100,854	6.5
35–44	…	…	142,152	5.4
45–49	…	…	63,470	4.8
50–54	…	…	65,728	4.7
55–59	…	…	75,837	6.2
60–64	…	…	131,634	12.6