HC Deb 24 March 1981 vol 1 cc290-2W
17. Mr. John Evans

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

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 12 March the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,484,712.

28. Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures for the United Kingdom and for Merseyside, respectively.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The seasonally adjusted rise of 77,000 for the United Kingdom, announced today, confirms that the rate of increase is slower than it was at the end of last year.

Seasonally adjusted figures for Merseyside special development area are not available, but the unadjusted figure increased by 450, to 109,937 between February and March.

Increases in recent months have been much slower in Merseyside than in the rest of the North-West, but unemployment there remains unacceptably high.

31. Mr. loan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest estimated increase in the number of working people who are becoming unemployed on an annual and weekly basis.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The provisional increase in registered unemployment in the United Kingdom between February and March was 77,000 seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers. This increase represents the difference between the large numbers of people joining and leaving the register between the two counts. On a weekly basis the increase would be 19,000 and on an annual basis 1,000,000.

33. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest percentages of the male and female working population unemployed in total and for those aged over 55 years and over 60 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 12 March the Great Britain unemployment rate, expressing unemployment as a percentage of the employed population—both employed and unemployed—was 12.3 per cent. for males and 7.0 per cent. for females.

At 15 January 1981, the latest date for which the quarterly age analysis is available, the estimated unemployment rates for Great Britain were:

Age Group Male unemployment rate Female unemployment rate
55 to 59 8.9 4.1
60 and over 16.3 0.4
All ages 11.8 7.0

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

Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the registered number of unemployed at the latest available date.

50. Mr. Woolmer

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available figures for the seasonally non-adjusted number of unemployed, including school leavers in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

54. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for unemployment throughout the United Kingdom.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At 12 March the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,484,712.

49. Mr. Leighton

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

Mr. Peter Morrison

Between May 1979 and March 1981 the numbers registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, increased by 1,075,000.

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 12 March, the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,484,712.

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