HC Deb 18 December 1984 vol 70 cc103-4W
15. Mr. Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for over 12 months; and what was the comparable figure for May 1979.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

On 11 October 1984 the number of claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for over one year was 1,276,883. The corresponding figure for April 1979 was 366,711, although this relates to registrants at jobcentres and is not directly comparable. The May 1979 figure is not available.

16. Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of men and women, above retirement age, who are in work.

Mr. Alan Clark

The labour force survey shows that there were 264,000 men and 517,000 women above retirement age in work in Great Britain in the second quarter of 1983.

20. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have reached pensionable age over the past five years; how many school leavers have become available for employment over the same period; and what have been the implications for the labour market.

Mr. Alan Clark

Between 1978 and 1983, 2.9 million people reached pensionable age in Great Britain. Over the same period 3.3 million people left school not intending to go into further full-time education.

These were two of the factors which contributed to a growth of a quarter of a million in the labour force over that period.

24. Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of unemployed in the United Kingdom.

39. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest level of unemployment.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 8 November 1984 the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,222,586.

29. Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those industries in which there has been most growth in jobs in the latest 12-month period for which statistics are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

The industries in which there vas the greatest numerical increase in employees in employment in Great Britain between June 1983 and June 1984 are as follows:Activity Heading of the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification

  • Food retailing (AH 6410)
  • Social welfare, charitable and community services (AH 9611) Hotel trade (AH 6650)
  • Sport and other recreational services (AH 9791)
  • Research and development (AH 9400)
  • Public houses and bars (AH 6620)
  • Banking and bill-discounting (AH 8140)

49. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of Stale for Employment whether he will place in the Library a list of all redundancies and job losses, relating to all firms and industries, on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alan Clark

Information on confirmed redundancies is published monthly in tables 2.30 (by region) and 2.31 (by industry) of the labour market data section ofEmployment Gazette; copies of which are available in the Library. Other regularly produced unpublished analyses, by industry within region, are placed in the Library.

The extra costs of compiling weekly information cannot be justified.

The names of firms suffering redundancies cannot be disclosed, as this information is treated in confidence by the Department.

52. Mr. Beggs

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which region of the United Kingdom currently has the highest level of unemployment.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 8 November 1984 there were 121,025 unemployed claimants in Northern Ireland with a corresponding unemployment rate of 20.9 per cent., which is higher than for all other regions of the United Kingdom.

53. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his current estimate of the number and rate of unemployed in the city of Leicester.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 8 November 1984 there were 20,238 unemployed claimants in the city of Leicester. Travel-to-work areas are the smallest areas for which unemployment rates are calculated. The corresponding figure for the Leicester travel-to-work area was 27,458, representing an unemployment rate of 11.0 per cent.

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