HL Deb 17 July 1980 vol 411 c2079WA
Lord ORR-EWING

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what months in the last five years has the rate of unemployment exceeded the current 6.2 per cent. and what was the peak unemployment total in February 1947.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EMPLOYMENT (The Earl of Gowrie)

The seasonally adjusted rate of 6.2 per cent. for Great Britain in June 1980 has not been exceeded in the last five years. The figure originally published for February 1947 was about 1.9 million (12.5 per cent.). Allowances need to be made for changes in the compilation of the figures over the period as well as for social changes.