§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of men unemployed for (a) over six months, (b) over one year, and (c) over two years, were over 60 years at the latest count; and what percentage of the male work force aged over 60 years these figures represent.
§ Mr. GummerThe following table gives at 14 April, the latest date for which the information is available, the numbers of unemployed male claimants aged 60 years and 291W over in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for the lengths of time specified and expresses these as percentages of the corresponding numbers of unemployed males of all ages. The figures reflect the first effects of the provision in the 1983 Budget for men aged 60 and over no longer having to sign on at an unemployment benefit office solely to secure national insurance credits. The effect was to exclude from the April count some 4,000 in the up to 52 weeks group, 11,000 in the over 52 and up to 104 weeks group and 14,000 in the over 104 weeks group.
Males aged 60 years and over Duration of unemployment Number Percentage of all males in group Over 26 and up to 52 weeks 47,295 9.5 Over 52 and up to 104 weeks 61,838 12.9 Over 104 weeks 59,155 13.1 As a proportion of the estimated employed population (both employed and unemployed) in this group, these figures represent 4 per cent., 5 per cent. and 5 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of registered unemployed people in the United Kingdom; and what is the latest estimate of the number of unemployed people who are not registered as such.
§ Mr. GummerThe June number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 2,983,921. Not included in this total were 128,433 new school leavers registered at careers offices who are not yet entitled to benefit.
This Department estimates that in Great Britain in 1981, the latest date for which such estimates are available, some 400,000 people who had no jobs were seeking work but were not registered as unemployed. The 1981 labour force survey estimates that, at that time, a similar number of the registered unemployed were not actively looking for work. The 1983 labour force survey will yield corresponding information about job seekers not entitled to unemployment benefit, in place of that above about the unregistered unemployed.