HC Deb 24 February 1981 vol 999 cc317-8W
18. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures for the number of people unemployed; if he will give the percentages of the working population unemployed for men and women, respectively, divided as between the age groups 16 to 19 years, 20 to 29 years, 30 to 49 years, 50 to 54 years, 55 years and over and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Prior

At 12 February, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed was 2,463,294 in the United Kingdom. The male unemployment rate 12.3 per cent. and the female rate 7.1 per cent.

Unemployment rates expressing unemployment as a percentage of the working population are not available for the United Kingdom, but at 15 January 1981, the latest date for which the quarterly age analyses is available the estimated unemployment rates by age expressing unemployment as a percentage of the employed population (both employed and unemployed) for Great Britain were:

Age group Male unemployment rate Female unemployment rate
16–19 18.6 16.9
20–29 14.8 11.2
30–49 8.9 3.8

Age group Male unemployment rate Female unemployment rate
50–54 8.0 3.5
55 and over 12.2 3.0
All ages 11.8 7.0

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

21. Mr. Parry

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

Mr. Peter Morrison

The seasonally adjusted increase of 79,000 for the United Kingdom, announced today, is lower than for some months, and I am naturally encouraged by this. However, it is too soon to say that the rate of increase is slowing down and we must be deeply concerned still at the rapid increase and the high levels.

23. Mr. loan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

43. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure of the number of people unemployed.

55. Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom.

65. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of those now registered unemployed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 12 February, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,463,294.

30. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of unemployed; and what they were in February 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 12 February 1981, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed m the United Kingdom was 2,463,294 compared with 1,451,877 at 8 February 1979.

61. Mr. Leighton

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much unemployment has increased since May 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Between May 1979 and February 1981 the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, increased by 1,007,200. The figure is provisional.

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed people in the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate of the number of non-registered unemployed.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 13 February, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,463,294.

Concerning the estimate of the non-registered unemployed I have nothing to add to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 27 January 1981.—[Vol. 997, c. 368.]