§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were registered as unemployed in the district of East Lothian in May 1979; how many people are unemployed there now; and what percentage change this represents.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherThe Haddington and Musselburgh travel-to-work areas cover the major part of East Lothian district. The following table shows the numbers of people unemployed in these areas in May 1979 and April 1983. Because the figures for May 1979 are based on people registered as unemployed at jobcentres and careers offices—the old basis of the unemployment count—in the area, while the figures for April 1983 are based on the numbers of unemployed benefit claimants —the new basis of the count—they are not directly comparable, and it is not possible to calculate a meaningful figure for the percentage change. However, the figures for October 1982 have been included on both the old and the new basis, for purposes of comparison.
Haddington Musselburgh May 1979 (registrants) 406 1,434 October 1982 (registrants) 736 3,204 October 1982 (claimants) 559 3,169 April 1983 (claimants) 628 3,107