HC Deb 27 January 1981 vol 997 cc366-7W
15. Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what is his estimate of the number who have not registered.

Mr. Prior

At 15 January the numbers of people registered as unemployed was 2,419,452.

In giving an estimate of the number of unemployed who have not registered, I must emphasise that this phenomenon is by no means a new one. I have no reason for believing that the scale of the figures now would be substantially different to its level in the past. My estimate is that about 330,000 people are currently seeking work without having registered as being unemployed.

19. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

31. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest numbeer of registered unemployed.

Mr. Prior

At 15 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,419,452.

21. Mr. Skinner

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

Mr. Peter Morrison

The provisional numbers of people registered as unemployed at 15 January in the areas specified were:

Area Number
South-East 513,192
East Anglia 58,389
South-West 152,347
West Midlands 264,544
East Midlands 143,908
Yorkshire and Humberside 224,493
North-West 344,062
North 187,379
Wales 145,558
Scotland 286,602
Northern Ireland 98,978

22. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of registered unemployed at the latest available date, and the comparable figure in May 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 15 January 1981 the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,235,900 compared with 1,306,100 at 10 May 1979. The figures exclude school leavers and are adjusted for seasonal variations.

24. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the number and percentage of people unemployed; and what are the corresponding figures for May 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 15 January 1981 the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,235,900 and the unemployment rate was 9.3 per cent. The corresponding figures at 10 May 1979 were 1,306,100 and 5.4 per cent. The figures exclude school leavers and are adjusted for seasonal variations.

25. Mr. John Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for the United Kingdom and North-West England, respectively.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 15 January, the provisional numbers of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom and the North-West region were 2,419,452 and 344,062 respectively.

37. Mr. Woolmer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in unemployment since May 1979 for each region and for the United Kingdom as a whole.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following table gives the increases in the numbers registered as unemployed, excluding school leavers and seasonally adjusted, between May 1979 and January 1981 in the areas specified.

South-East 202,900
East Anglia 23,000
South-West 47,500
West Midlands 129,500
East Midlands 63,100
Yorkshire and Humberside 93,300
North-West 129,800
North 62,100
Wales 52,200
Scotland 85,600
Northern Ireland 31,700
United Kingdom 929,800

41. Mr. Ashley

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

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 15 January the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,419,452.