HC Deb 17 November 1982 vol 32 cc179-80W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the East Midlands among the following groups (a) men, (b) women and (c) 16 to 18-year-olds; and what was the corresponding figure for 1979.

Mr. Alison

The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed in the East Midlands region for the groups specified at October 1979 and October 1982.

October 1979 October 1982
Male 51,413 138,329
Female 22,347 56,205
Aged 18 and under (included in previous columns) 9,569 27,064

Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the most recent figure for the level of unemployment among 18 and 19-year-olds; and what was the corresponding figure for 1979.

Mr. Alison

At October 1982, the number of people aged 18 and 19 years registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 381,282. The corresponding number at October 1979 was 135,998.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the latest percentage level of unemployment in each of the following travel-to-work areas, together with the comparable percentages for November 1979: (a) Liverpool, (b) Birmingham, (c) Leeds, (d) Manchester and (e) Sheffield.

Mr. Alison

The following is the information for November 1979 and October 1982, the latest available.

Travel-to-work area Percentage rate of unemployment
November 1979 October 1982
Liverpool 12.3 20.2
Birmingham 6.2 18.0
Leeds 5.0 13.2
Manchester 5.4 14.5
Sheffield 4.8 14.5

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on (a) male and (b) female unemployment for the Liverpool, Scotland Exchange constituency as shown in the 1981 census returns.

Mr. Alison

The results for the 1981 census of population for the Liverpool, Scotland Exchange constituency show that substantial proportions of economically active men and women living in the constituency are unemployed. The high incidence of unemployment among those living in the constituency confirms my Department's knowledge about the pattern of unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work area, in which the constituency lies. As the census data do not identify those registered for employment and are based on place of residence, the proportions calculated from the census data are not comparable with the unemployment rates for travel-to-work areas published by my Department.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what he estimates will be the impact on unemployment statistics in the calendar year 1983 of (a) his youth training scheme, (b) the Manpower Services Commission schemes for the long-term unemployed and (c) the dropping from the register of unemployed of those without entitlement to benefit.

Mr. Alison

We estimate that at 31 December 1983 the effect on unemployment statistics of these three measures will be as follows:

  1. (a) The youth training scheme (including residual elements of the youth opportunities programme): approximately 250,000.
  2. (b) The community programme: approximately 100,000.
  3. (c) Forecasts are not made of the unemployed, whether or not they are entitled to benefit.

Mr. Foster

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have been unemployed for longer than (a) six months and (b) 12 months in the United Kingdom, and in the Bishop Auckland constituency; and if he will give the corresponding figures for May 1979, October 1980 and October 1981, the increase each year in percentage terms and the total increase in percentage terms between May 1979 and the present time.

Mr. Alison

[pursuant to his reply, 9 November 1982, c. 124–25.]: The latest figures, which are for October, are not yet available. I shall write to the hon. Member.