§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of adult persons who have been unemployed in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the west midlands and (c) the Walsall travel-to-work area for 12 months or over; and if he will give the figures for May 1979 and the percentage difference in each case between the two dates.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[pursuant to his reply, 30 January 1984, c. 28]: The following table gives the figures for registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May) and October 1982 and the figures for unemployed claimants in October 1982 and October 1983. The figures for October 1983 are affected by the provisions announced in the 1983 Budget for unemployed men aged 60 and over. By October 1983 it was estimated that, nationally, about 125,000 in the over 52 weeks category had been relieved of the need to sign on.
registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May) and October 1982 and the figures for unemployed claimants in October 1982 and October 1983. Figures are given for those aged under 20 years (under 21 not available) and for those aged 20 and over. The figures for October 1983 for the latter age group are affected by the provisions announced in the 1983 Budget for unemployed 291W men aged 60 and over. By October 1983 it was estimated that, nationally, about 125,000 in the over 52 weeks category had been relieved of the need to sign on.
Unemployed for over 52 weeks Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants April 1979 October 1982 Percentage change October 1982 October 1983 Percentage change South East Aged under 20 1,868 17,597 +842.0 13,549 21,055 +55.4 Aged 20 and over 60,490 211,700 +250.0 164,957 206,374 +25.1 East Anglia Aged under 20 248 1,746 +604.0 1,559 2,553 +63.8 Aged 20 and over 7,557 22,608 +199.2 18,578 21,763 +17.1 South West Aged under 20 867 3,968 +357.7 3,424 5,037 +47.1 Aged 20 and over 24,395 58,609 +140.3 49,592 52,443 +5.7 West Midlands Aged under 20 1,837 12,805 +597.1 11,387 16,129 +41.6 Aged 20 and over 32,317 142,936 +342.3 118,319 136,292 +15.2 East Midlands Aged under 20 842 5,427 +544.5 4,404 6,238 +41.6 Aged 20 and over 19,310 62,142 +221.8 55,335 57,934 +4.7 Yorkshire and Humberside Aged under 20 1,742 10,044 +476.6 9,081 12,824 +41.2 Aged 20 and over 30,986 100,946 +225.8 87,264 93,083 +6.7 North West Aged under 20 4,670 16,160 +246.0 13,879 19,234 +39.5 Aged 20 and over 55,418 162,141 +192.6 137,477 158,204 +15.1 North Aged under 20 2,250 8,705 +286.9 8,067 10,744 +33.2 Aged 20 and over 33,635 84,422 +151.0 75,455 79,895 +5.9 Wales Aged under 20 1,145 5,622 +391.0 5,888 7,493 +27.3 Aged 20 and over 21,640 62,742 +189.9 54,680 57,423 +5.0 Scotland Aged under 20 2,837 13,309 +369.1 11,957 16,203 +35.5 Aged 20 and over 42,741 114,528 +168.0 97,154 108,116 +11.3 Northern Ireland Aged under 20 1,493 6,031 +304.0 *5,400 5,949 +10.2 Aged 20 and over 18,423 45,378 +146.3 *41,900 47,890 +14.3 * Estimated.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment, what is the number of those over 45 years who have been unemployed for 12 months and over in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the Walsall travel-to-work area; and if he will give the figures for May 1979 and the percentage differences between the two dates.
§ Mr. Alan Clark[pursuant to his reply 30 January 1984, c. 28]: The following table gives the figures for
292W
Unemployed for over 52 weeks—aged 45 years and over Registered unemployed Unemployed claimants April 1979 October 1982 Percentage change October 1982 October 1983 Percentage change United Kingdom 182, 464 424,434 +132.6 387,704 358,394 -7.6 West Midlands Region 17,049 56,922 +233.9 51,224 49,405 -3.6 Walsall travel-to-work area 1,436 4,793 +233.8 4,388 4,024 -8.3 registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May) and October 1982 and the figures for unemployed claimants in October 1982 and October 1983. The figures for October 1983 are affected by the provisions announced in the 1983 Budget for unemployed men aged 60 and over. By October 1983 it was estimated that, nationally, about 125,000 in the over 52 weeks category had been relieved of the need to sign on.