§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in Southend-on-Sea by comparison with the national level of unemployment; and if he will publish a table showing the comparable Southend and national figures, respectively, in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. AlisonAt October 1982 the rate of unemployment in the Southend-on-Sea travel-to-work area was 15.9 per cent. compared with 13.8 per cent. for the United Kingdom as a whole. The percentage rates at October in each of the previous 10 years were as follows:
October each year Southend-on-Sea travel-to-work area United Kingdom 1972 3.5 3.6 1973 2.5 2.3 1974 3.1 2.7 1975 6.0 4.9 1976 7.2 5.8 1977 7.9 6.3 1978 6.4 5.9 1979 5.7 5.6 1980 9.4 8.5 1981 13.5 12.5