§ Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in 373W Accrington; what it was in May 1979; what has been the percentage increase over this period; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1983]: At January 1983, the number of unemployed claimants—the new basis of the count—in the Accrington jobcentre area was 3,525. A comparable estimate is not available for May 1979 but the number registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—in the area at that date was 1,008.
Between May 1979 and October 1982 the number of people registered as unemployed in the Accrington jobcentre area increased by 299 per cent. Between October 1982 and January 1983 the number of unemployed claimants in the area increased by 5.9 per cent. The figures include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.
The best way of helping all those who are unemployed in Accrington and elsewhere in the country is to improve employment prospects by getting the economy right. This is what our policies are designed to achieve.