HC Deb 12 April 1984 vol 58 c363W
Mr. Tom Cox

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) men and (b) women are at present registered as unemployed in the Greater London council area; and what was the number in 1979.

Mr. Alan Clark

In March 1984 the numbers of unemployed male and female claimants in Greater London were 262,965 and 110,571, respectively. The corresponding estimates for March 1979 were 102,400 males and 29,700 females.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures for the last five years showing the size of the working population in the United Kingdom and also the percentage of the total population which was in work.

Mr. Alan Clark

The estimates are as follows:

June Working population Employed labour force Employed labour force as percentage of home population
('000s) ('000s) (percentage)
1979 26,610 25,375 45
1980 26,819 25,306 45
1981 26,718 24,323 43
1982 26,731 23,961 *43
1983 26,704 23,720 *42
* Based on projections of home population.