HC Deb 23 March 1981 vol 1 cc227-8W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage unemployment rate for the Manchester travel-to-work area at the latest date and two years previously.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At February 1981 the rate of unemployment in the Manchester travel-to-work area was 10.3 per cent. compared with 5.8 per cent. at February 1979.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged under 25 years were registered as unemployed in (a) the Manchester travel-to-work area and (b) the Manchester city employment office area at October 1979, October 1980 and January 1981; what was the percentage change between each date; and what proportion these totals formed of the total numbers registered as unemployed in these areas.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following table gives the information for the areas and dates specified. The numbers are not adjusted for seasonal influences and they include school leavers which are generally higher in October than in the following January.

Manchester travel-to-work area, unemployed aged under 25 years
Number Percentage change As a percentage of all unemployed in the area
October 1979 15,703 +73.4 39.8
October 1980 27,225 43.7
January 1981 29,162 +7.1 40.7

* Because of a change in the method used to allocate some employees to employment office areas in 1977 the figures for the Manchester city employment office area for 1977 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.