HC Deb 03 December 1981 vol 14 cc219-20W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the latest information regarding the unemployed by entitlement to benefit and give comparable figures for 1978 and 1979.

Mrs. Chalker

Because of the effects of industrial action, the latest available information relates to February 1981. This is given in the following table, with comparable figures for February 1978, 1979 and 1980.

The May 1979 figure for permanent staff includes 269 staff who were subsequently transferred to other DHSS manpower accounts.