§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the view of the Manpower 930WA Services Commission that at least 750,000 people do not register their unemployment, thus bringing the number of jobless to approximately 4,000,000.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Ferrers)My department's most recent estimate of those seeking work but not registered as unemployed is about one-third of a million for 1979–80. It is estimated that the special employment and training measures kept about 315,000 people off the register in December 1981; but those in training or in jobs arising through, for example, the Job Release Schemes, cannot be regarded as "jobless".
These estimates differ somewhat from those of the MSC. However, the commission did not suggest that people in these groups should be added to the registered unemployment count to arrive at the number of jobless.
There are some groups who are currently included in the official count, which it can be argued might be excluded. For example, various surveys over the years have suggested that for one reason or another some of the registered unemployed are not actively looking for work or are not concerned about being out of work. Estimates of the proportion range between 10 and 20 per cent., varying in part with the coverage and timing of the surveys.
House adjourned at ten o'clock.