HC Deb 16 November 1982 vol 32 cc83-4W
Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total number of factory closures which occurred in the West Midlands since May 1979, the number of employees involved in such undertakings and the number of such closures in the five years prior to May 1979 together with the number of employees involved; and if he will give the change in percentage terms.

Mr. Alison

At May 1979 there were 222 travel-to-work areas in the United Kingdom with a percentage rate of unemployment higher than that of the Walsall travel-to-work area. The corresponding number at October 1982 was 70.

Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in percentage terms what was the highest figure in any period prior to May 1979 for unemployment in the West Midlands; and if he will state the relevant date and year.

Mr. Alison

Between July 1948, when the current series of unemployment statistics was first introduced, and May 1979 the highest unemployment rate in the West Midlands region was recorded in the months of July and August 1977 when it stood at 6.7 per cent.

Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number and percentage currently unemployed in the Black Country area of the West Midlands; and what was the comparable information for May 1979.

Mr. Alison

The following is the information at October 1982 and May 1979. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

Mr. Waddington

There are no comprehensive statistics of factory closures. Information on closures prior to 1977 is not comparable with the figures compiled since that date.

Between January 1977 and April 1979, 55 establishments in the West Midlands reported closures, involving redundancies of 10 or more employees, as due to occur. A total of 3,594 employees were involved. Between May 1979 and September 1982*, 574 such closures were reported, involving 28,647 employees. This was an increase, in annual average terms, of 610 per cent. in the number of closures, and of 444 per cent. in the number of redundancies involved.

* This includes provisional data for September 1982.