§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number and percentage of those unemployed in (a) the West Midlands and (b) the Walsall travel-to-work area in May 1979 and now; and what has been the percentage increase in both categories over this period.
§ Mr. AlisonThe number of registered as unemployed in the West Midlands region at May 1979 was 117,689 and the unemployment rate was 5.1 per cent. compared with 344,408 and 15.1 per cent. at March 1982. The corresponding figures for the Walsall travel-to-work area were 8,429 and 5.1 per cent. at May 1979 and 28,738 and 17.0 per cent. at March 1982. The percentage increases between the two dates were 193 per cent. in the West Midlands region and 241 per cent. in the Walsall travel-to-work area. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.