HC Deb 14 December 1982 vol 34 cc83-4W
Mrs. Shirley Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage unemployment in the United Kingdom has increased since May 1979; and by what percentage unemployment has increased in the other eight European Economic Community countries taken together.

Mr. Alison

Figures of total unemployment published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities

Prosecutions taken by Health and Safety Inspectorates and Agencies under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1984
Table 1
All cases (excluding local authorities) Local authorities
Informations laid Convictions Withdrawn Dismissed Average fine per conviction £ Informations laid
1976 373 330 19 24 131 18
1977 658 576 46 36 121 34
1978 706 617 43 46 148 194
1979 644 558 39 47 214 156
1980 654 575 44 35 233 277
*1981 477 410 29 38 222 243
* Provisional.

indicate that between May 1979 and October 1982 unemployment in the United Kingdom* increased by 154 per cent. compared with 88 per cent. in the other eight countries which were members in 1979.

  • * Old basis (registrations).
  • Source: SOEC publications.

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are unemployed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Alison

At 11 November the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,063,026.