§ 33. Mr. Bill Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Manpower Services Commission will bring forward the community work scheme proposed in the Budget.
§ Mr. Alison:The community programme came into operation on 1 October. Details are available from the Manpower Services Commission. I would encourage local authorities, voluntary organisations and other bodies to consider how they could use this opportunity both to help long-term unemployed people and to carry out projects of benefit to the community.
97W
§ 34. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were unemployed at the latest available date; and by how many this exceeds the number unemployed in May 1979.
§ Mr. Alison:At 9 September 1982, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, was 3,036,700; an increase of 1,728,600 since May 1979.
§ 35. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the numbers and proportion of the potential working population which is unemployed; what further steps he is taking to reduce unemployment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alison:At 9 September, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3,343,075 and the unemployment rate was 14 per cent. The rate is based on the estimated number of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes members of Her Majesty's Forces and the self-employed.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) earlier today.
§ 38. Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total level of unemployment in the United Kingdom; and how many of these are school leavers.
§ Mr. Alison:At 9 September, the total number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 3,343,075, of which 289,048 were school leavers under 18 years of age.