§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report (a) the level of unemployment in the construction industry in the special development areas in England and Wales at the latest date and (b) the percentage figures in the special development areas; and what were the respective figures for May 1979.
§ Mr. Alison[pursuant to his reply, 28 February 1983, c. 56]: At May 1982, the last date for which an industrial analysis was made, the number of people registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—in the special development areas in England and Wales who last worked in the construction industry was 54,869. The corresponding number at May 1979 was 30,596. The percentage rates of unemployment were 37 and 21, respectively.