§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average level of unemployment for each year since 1970 in (a) total numbers of unemployed and (b) percentage unemployed.
§ Mr. Jim LesterFollowing is the information for Great Britain:
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(a)Average number registered as unemployed (b)Average percentage rate of unemployment 1970 576,828 2.5 1971 751,729 3.4 1972 834,993 3.7 1973 587,650 2.6 1974 585,230 2.6 1975 935,649 4.1 1976* 1,303,979 5.6 1977 1,422,650 6.0 1978 1,409,652 6.0 1979† 1,325,506 5.6 * Average of 11 months. † The figures for 1979 are not strictly comparable with those for earlier years because of the introduction of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. This had the effect of raising the monthly unemployment figures for Great Britain by about 20,000 from October 1979, but this has a negligible effect on the average rate.