§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an analysis of the unemployment figures for the Bedford/Kempston area, indicating the age categories involved and the industrial categories affected.
§ Mr. AlisonThe following tables give the information for the Beford jobcentre area, which includes Kempston. Table 1 gives an age analysis of unemployed claimants—the new basis of the count—at January 1983. Table 2 gives for May 1982, the last date for which an industrial analysis was made, the numbers registered as unemployed—the old basis of the count—who last worked in the industries listed.
Table 1 Unemployed claimants by age January 1983 Age Number Under 18 years 536 18 years 458 19 years 395 20–24 years 1,353 25–29 years 878 30–34 years 610 35–44 years 858 45–54 years 835 55–59 years 580 60 years and over 696 All ages 7,199 496W
Table 2 Registered unemployed by industry May 1982 Standard Industrial Classification, 1968 Number Agriculture, forestry, fishing 133 Mining and quarrying 3 Food, drink and tobacco 100 Coal and petroleum products 4 Chemicals and allied industries 35 Metal manufacture 122 Mechanical engineering 273 Instrument engineering 15 Electrical engineering 251 Shipbuilding and marine engineering 45 Vehicles 217 Metal goods not elsewhere specified 95 Textiles 14 Leather, leather goods and fur 30 Clothing and footwear 66 Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc. 660 Timber, furniture, etc. 51 Paper, printing and publishing 68 Other manufacturing industries 100
Standard Industrial Classification, 1968 Number Construction 668 Gas, electricity and water 19 Transport and communication 242 Distributive trades 699 Insurance, banking, finance and business services 124 Professional and scientific services 260 Miscellaneous services 549 Public administration and defence 268 Not classified by industry (including school leavers) 1,237 Total 6,348
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the travel-to-work areas of the United Kingdom in rank order according to the percentage unemployed in October 1982 using the old system of measurement.
§ Mr. AlisonI shall reply to the right hon. Member as soon as possible.