Long-term Unemployment

HC Deb 21 December 1982 vol 34 cc441-2W

40. Mr. Craigen

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available figures on long-term unemployment compared with May 1979.

Mr. Alison

At October 1982, the number of people registered as unemployed—old basis—for over 52 weeks in the United Kingdom was 1,169,558. The corresponding number at April 1979—figures are not available for May—was 366,711.

41. Ms. Harman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the rate of increase between April 1979 and November 1982 in the number of persons registered as unemployed for more than a year in (a) the area covered by the London borough of Southwark and (b) the South-East of England.

Mr. Alison

Between April 1979 and October 1982, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available, the numbers registered as unemployed—old basis—for over 52 weeks in the area covered by the Bermondsey, Borough and Camberwell jobcentres, which corresponds closely to the London borough of Southwark, increased by 211 per cent. The corresponding increase for the South-East region was 268 per cent.