§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers unemployed in Newcastle-under-Lyme in May 1979; and what they were at the last count.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAt 10 May 1979 the number of people registered as unemployed in the Newcastle-under-Lyme employment office area was 1,576. The corresponding figure at 11 December 1980 was 3,564.
The figures are not adjusted for seasonal influences, which normally lead to unemployment being higher in December than in May. Additionally, the figures are not strictly comparable because of the introduction, in September 1979, of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. Estimates of this effect below regional level are not available but for the country as a whole total figures are about 1½ per cent. higher than under weekly attendance.