§ 27. Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest unemployment figures for Merseyside.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 13 October the number of unemployed claimants in the Merseyside special development area was 139,128.
§ 36. Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects employment prospects on Merseyside to improve.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkReal and sustainable new jobs will be created on Merseyside and elsewhere when our industries become more competitive and sell more goods and services. There are continuing signs that the Government's policies are succeeding in establishing the economic conditions which will help them to do so. Inflation is firmly under control, output is 2½ per cent. higher than a year ago and productivity in manufacturing has risen by about 20 per cent. since 1980.
§ 46. Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) young persons are currently unemployed on Merseyside.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 13 October the total number of unemployed claimants in the Merseyside special development area was 139,128 — 101,380 males and 37,748 females. On 14 July, the latest date for which an analysis by age is available, out of a total of 135,872–100,275 male and 35,597 female — unemployed claimants in the area, 8,188 were aged under 18 years. The figures for July do not include 7,057 unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age who were not entitled to claim benefit.