HC Deb 26 July 1982 vol 28 cc365-6W
Mr. Radice

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the Manpower Services Commission about the £150 million scheme for the long-term unemployed announced in the Budget on 9 March.

Mr. Alison

My right hon. Friend has asked the Manpower Services Commission to consider details of the new initiative announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9 March. We understand that it has discussed the lines of a possible scheme and intends to return to the matter at its meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, 27 July. We would hope to be able to make a further statement shortly thereafter.

1978. No censuses were taken in 1979 and 1980 and information from the September 1981 census is not yet available.

The following table shows the numbers of redundancies confirmed to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in West Yorkshire during 1979, 1980, 1981 and in the first six months of 1982. These figures cannot be equated with actual job losses. Neither are they comprehensive—they do not, for example, include redundancies affecting fewer than 10 people.

Mr. Radice

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number registered as being unemployed for over a year in May 1979; and what is the number so registered in July 1982.

Mr. Alison

The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by duration of unemployment for January, April, July and October. At April 1979 the number of people registered as unemployed for over 52 weeks in the United Kingdom was 366,711. The corresponding figure at April 1982 was 994,395. The information for July 1982 is not yet available.