§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 12 January, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,199,678. Although there was a seasonally adjusted increae of 29,000 in January, this appears to be an erratic figure. At present the trend in unemployment seems to have broadly levelled out. In the last six months there has been an average monthly rise of 4,000, compared with an average monthly rise of 21,000 in the previous six months. Whether the improved unemployed picture will continue depends on a number of factors, in particular on further moderation of pay settlements.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were registered as unemployed in the Leicester, East constituency on 31 December in each of past 10 years.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe unemployment figures are compiled for jobcentre areas and not for parliamentary constituencies. The following table gives the available information for the Leicester jobcentre area, which is larger than the Leicester, East constituency. Information is given of the numbers registered as unemployed in December of each of the years 1975 and 1977 to 1981 and the numbers of unemployed claimants in December 1982 and 1983. Figures for December 1974 and 1976 are not available because of industrial action.
December each year Registered unemployed 1975 *12,065 1977 10,817 1978 11,445 1979 11,464 1980 17,897 1981 23,167 Unemployed claimants 1982 22,621 1983 22,045
Skillcentres: STA northern region Instructional officers 1.4.80 1.4.81 1.4.82 1.10.83 1.1.84 Billingham 24 27 25 24 24 Bradford 23 27 27 25 25 Darlington 15 1 — — — Doncaster 15 19 17 19 19 Durham and annexe 57 54 54 49 48 Felling and annexe 54 53 52 49 47 Hull 29 27 26 25 25 Killingworth 41 37 36 36 35 Leeds (inc. annexe at 1.4.80) 49 44 41 41 41 Middlesbrough 23 25 25 24 22 Sheffield (inc. annexe at 1.4.80 43 40 41 42 42 Wakefield 34 30 33 34 34 Total 407 384 377 368 362 The number of staff to be employed in 1984–85 will depend upon the level of business attracted.
264W* Includes Wigston which became a separate jobcentre area in October 1977.
A comparison between 1982 and 1983 is affected by the provisions announced in the 1983 budget which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on at an unemployment benefit office. The effect nationally was about half of 1 per cent. Estimates of the effect at local level are not available.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are registered as unemployed in the county of South Yorkshire and in each employment area within the county.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following table gives, for 12 January, the numbers of unemployed claimants in the areas specified.
Numbers South Yorkshire metropolitan county 93,598 Jobcentre Areas Barnsley 9,948 Chapeltown 2,083 Dinnington 1,964 Doncaster 15,539 Firth Park 5,315 Goldthorpe 1,829 Hoyland 1,137 Maltby 1,693 Mexborough 4,318 Rotherham 11,865 Sheffield 27,507 Thome 3,468 Wombwell 1,871 Woodhouse 5,061