HC Deb 08 November 1983 vol 48 cc117-21W
15. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for 52 weeks or longer; and what percentage this is of the total unemployment figure.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 14 July, the latest date for which such information is available, there were 1,102,581 claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over 52 weeks. This represented 36.5 per cent. of the total number of unemployed claimants.

16. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage unemployment in the travel-to-work areas covering the Easington constituency, the northern region and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Mr. Tom King

On 13 October the percentage rates of unemployment in the Peterlee and Wearside travel-to-work areas were 18.1 per cent. and 20.7 per cent. respectively. The corresponding figure for the Northern region was 17.3 per cent. and for the United Kingdom 13.0 per cent.

Percentage changes in numbers unemployed
Yorkshire and Humberside region West Yorkshire Kirklees
Registered unemployed
May 1979 to October 1982 +164.4 +185.5 +246.3
Unemployed claimants
October 1982 to October 1983 (+5.1) -0.8 -3.8 -6.1
May 1979 to October 1983 (+180.7) +164.8 * *
*Not available. Estimates of unemployed claimants are not available below regional level for dates prior to October 1982.

The above figures for claimants are affected by the 1983 budget provisions for men over 60. The figures in brackets allow for the estimated effects of these provisions in Yorkshire and Humberside, separate figures are not available for West Yorkshire or Kirklees.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of persons unemployed, percentage rate of unemployment, and the total number of vacancies for (a) the Workington travel-to-work area and (b) Cumbria at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Alan Clark

At 13 October the total number of unemployed claimants in the Workington travel-to-work

29. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the numbers of people taking their names off the unemployment register each month; and what is his estimate of the numbers starting new employment each month.

Mr. Alan Clark

In the five weeks to 13 October a total of 591,498 people ceased claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain. The figure is not seasonally adjusted.

The latest estimate of labour turnover for the whole economy relates to the year ending March 1982, when there were about 6 million engagements, an average of 500,000 per month.

52. Mr. Ron Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people under 25 years of age are unemployed; and what percentage this represents of the total number of people unemployed.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by age is available, the number of unemployed claimants aged under 25 years in the United Kingdom was 1,196,407. This number, which does not include 211,125 unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age who were not entitled to claim benefit, represented 39.6 per cent. of the total number of unemployed claimants.

Mr. Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage increase in unemployment since May 1979 in (a) the Yorkshire and Humberside region, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Kirklees.

Mr. Alan Clark

The following table gives the available information for the Yorkshire and Humberside region, the West Yorkshire metropolitan county and for the area covered by the Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Spen Valley jobcentres, which corresponds closely to the Kirklees metropolitan district. The figures on which the changes are based include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.

area was 5,383 and the unemployment rate was 17.3 per cent. The corresponding figures for Cumbria were 22,005 and 11.4 per cent.

On 7 October the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres and careers offices in the Workington travel-to-work area were 115 and three, respectively. The corresponding figures for Cumbria were 1,368 at jobcentres and 59 at careers offices. Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for jobcentres and careers offices should not be added together. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the 12-month period to September 1983 the number of people placed in jobs by jobcentres in Cumbria was 14,723. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.

Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently registered as unemployed at employment offices and careers offices in Lambeth; and how many have been unemployed for more than one year.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 13 October the total number of unemployed claimants in the area covered by the Brixton, Stockwell, Streatham and West Norwood jobcentres, which corresponds closely to Lambeth, was 20,931. On 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available, out of a total number of 20,346 unemployed claimants in the area, 7,477 had been unemployed for over 52 weeks.

Greater London Kilburn, Wembley and Willesden jobcentres
Occupational group June 1979 September 1983 June 1979 September 1983
Managerial (general management) 40 8
Professional and related supporting management and administration 866 80 5 10
Professional and related in education, welfare and health 1,486 521 40 16
Literary, artistic and sports 152 163 2 7
Professional and related in science, engineering, technology and similar fields 1,089 159 30 34
Managerial (excluding general management) 1,315 451 29 20
Clerical and related 11,927 5,230 552 288
Selling 5,429 3,336 150 143
Security and protective service 1,359 586 29 28
Catering, cleaning, hairdressing and other personal service 12,552 6,239 268 183
Farming, fishing and related 269 92 5 2
Materials processing (excluding metal) 741 201 28 10
Making and repairing (excluding metal and electrical) 5,543 1,908 172 73
Processing, making, repairing and related (metal and electrical) 6,921 1,505 426 113
Painting, repetitive assembling, product inspecting, packaging and related 2,913 675 151 67
Construction, mining and related not elsewhere classified 1,531 503 84 23
Transport operating, materials moving and storing and related 4,911 1,239 289 96
Miscellaneous (including general labourers) 2,900 426 178 36
TOTAL ALL OCCUPATIONS 61,944 *23,322 2,438 *1,149
* Excludes community programme vacancies and those notified to Professional and Executive Recruitment offices. These numbered 1,871 in Greater London; separate figures for individual jobcentres are not available.

Mr. Freeson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures in (a) the Greater London area, (b) the Kilburn employment office area, (c) the Wembley employment office and (d) the Harlesden employment office area; if he will give the average period of unemployment and the age breakdown in each case; and what were the figures in May 1979.

Mr. Alan Clarke

[pursuant to his reply, 2 November 1983, c. 396.]: Table 1 gives the total numbers unemployed on 10 May 1979 and 13 October 1983.

Mr. Freeson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by trade and occupation the registered vacancies in (a) the Greater London area and (b) the Brent travel-to-work area in May 1979 and the latest available date.

Mr. Alan Clark

[pursuant to his reply, 2 November 1983, c. 396]: The following table gives an analysis by major occupational groups of the numbers of notified vacancies unfilled on 9 June 1979 and 2 September 1983. The figures, which are available quarterly, relate to vacancies notified to jobcentres but not to careers offices.

Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the economy as a whole.

There is no Brent travel-to-work area and figures are given for the area covered by the Kilburn, Wembley and Willesden jobcentres, which corresponds closely to the London borough of Brent.

Table 2 gives the median duration of unemployment on 5 April 1979—not available for May—and on 14 July 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available. Table 3 gives an age analysis for the same dates.

The figures for July and October 1983 are affected by the 1983 Budget provisions, which meant that some men aged 60 or over no longer had to sign on.

Table 1
Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants
May 1979 May 1979 October 1983
Greater London 134,050 122,900 367,781
Kilburn jobcentre area 1,468 * 4,466
Wembley jobcentre area 1,278 * 3,745
Willesden jobcentre area (includes Harlesden) 1,771 * 5,745
* Not available. Estimates of unemployed claimants for local areas are not available prior to October 1982.

Table 2
Median duration of unemployment Registered unemployed
Unemployed claimants
April 1979 July 1983
Greater London 20 weeks 30 weeks
Kilburn jobcentre area 20 weeks 30 weeks

Table 3 Age analysis of the unemployed
Greater London Kilburn jobcentre area Wembley jobcentre area Willesden jobcentre area
Age Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants
April 1979 July 1983 April 1979 July 1983 April 1979 July 1983 April 1979 July 1983
Under 18 5,676 19,191 61 153 35 152 92 341
18 4,638 16,872 58 157 49 138 68 293
19 5,319 18,591 67 222 48 197 76 354
20–24 25,368 78,425 321 1,049 241 807 376 1,313
25–29 19,649 49,097 287 723 166 451 262 767
30–34 14,505 34,653 153 438 131 348 167 539
35–44 20,068 51,802 214 666 173 529 297 835
45–49 8,997 23,089 107 295 124 287 142 376
50–54 9,160> 23,681 69 306 104 314 123 387
55–59 10,570 26,564 84 308 109 323 113 365
60–64 12,700 13,641 72 149 169 164 114 167
65 and over 489 240 3 1 5 4 3 4
Total, all ages 137,139 355,846 1,496 4,467 1,354 3,714 1,833 5,741