HC Deb 25 April 1983 vol 41 cc246-7W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in each January of 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983 respetively; and what were the respective percentage rates.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in Scotland in each January of 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983, respectively; and what were the respective percentage rates.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

The table following provides the information requested for January 1950 to January 1980, based on the number of people registered as unemployed at employment exchanges and employment offices or Jobcentres (the old basis of the unemployment count), and for January 1983, based on the number of claimants at Unemployment Benefit Offices (the new basis of the count).

Unemployment in Scotland at January in specific years from 1950 to 1983
Total Percentage Rate
1950 74,292 3.4
1955 65,853 3.0
1960 98,207 4.5
1965 79,722 3.6
1970 95,996 4.4
1980 203,232 8.9
1983 352,757 16.2

Notes:

(1) Temporarily stopped workers were included in the unemployment counts until 1970.

(2) Adult students registered for vacational employment were included in the unemployment count until 1975.

(3) Figures for January 1975 are not available owing to industrial action at that time; the February figure has been provided instead.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in the Portobello, Leith and Edinburgh employment exchanges in each January of 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1979 to 1983, and each July 1979 to 1983; and what were the corresponding figures for males and females in each January and July from 1979 to 1983.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Table 1
Gross local authority capital expenditure in Scotland
£ million cash
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84
Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Forestry 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1
Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment 1 1 2 3
Transport 82 85 108 115 104 128 133 148
Housing 224 218 226 270 287 305 378 363
Other Environmental Services 126 111 133 168 171 166 175 182
Law, order and protective services 10 10 11 12 15 13 15 18
Education and Science, arts and libraries 82 77 63 63 67 75 65 58
Health and social work 11 8 8 11 12 12 16 19
Total gross capital expenditure 536 511 550 640 659 703 787 792

Table 2
Net local authority capital expenditure in Scotland
£ million cash
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1 1 1 1 2 3 2 1
Industry, Energy, Trade and Employment 1 1 2 3
Roads and transport 83 85 108 114 104 127 133 147
Housing 220 214 221 259 259 243 263 267
Other environmental services 123 107 127 162 166 153 167 167
Law, order and protective services 10 10 9 10 13 12 15 16
Education and Science, arts and libraries 82 77 63 63 67 75 65 58
Health and personal social services 11 8 8 11 12 12 16 19