HC Deb 19 November 1981 vol 13 cc198-9W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of male and female unemployment, respectively, in (a) the Wolverhampton area and (b) the West Midlands in October 1974, October 1979, October 1980 and October 1981.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1981]: The following is the available information for the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area and the West Midlands region. Because of industrial action in some employment offices in October 1974 figures are not available for that date.

Wolverhampton travel-to-work area West Midlands Region
Male Female Male Female
October 1979 7.6 6.2 6.2 4.6
October 1980 12.4 9.3 10.8 7.7
October 1981 19.9 12.3 17.8 11.0

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a breakdown of the number out of work in (a) the Wolverhampton area and (b) the West Midlands at the latest convenient date by percentage (i) unemployed for up to one year, (ii) unemployed for more than one year but less than two, (iii) unemployed for over two years but less than three and (iv) unemployed for over three years.

Mr. Peter Morrison

[pursuant to his reply, 18 November 1981]: The following is the information at 8 October for the Wolverhampton employment office area and the West Midlands region.

Percentage of total unemployed
Duration in weeks Wolverhampton employment office area West Midlands Region
Up to 52 weeks 70.2 71.6
Over 52 and up to 104 weeks 20.1 19.9
Over 104 and up to 156 weeks 4.7 4.1
Over 156 weeks 4.9 4.5