HC Deb 10 July 1984 vol 63 cc503-6W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual average unemployment rate and numbers unemployed in Scotland in 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1983.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The information requested is shown in the following table. Because of the change to a claimant count in October 1982 the figures for 1983 are not directly comparable with the figures for the earlier years which are registrant based.

Scotland—Unemployment
Annual Average Annual Average percentage rate
Persons registered as unemployed
1955 48,414 2.3
1960 74,799 3.4
1965 63,390 2.9
1970 90,927 4.2
1975 116,536 5.3
1980 225,729 10.0
Unemployed persons claiming benefit
1983 335,579 14.9

Note: Adult students are included in the figures for the years 1955 to 1975, but excluded in 1980 and 1983.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in Scotland in each of the four Scottish cities in June 1974 and in June 1984.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The following table shows for June 1984 the number of people registered as unemployed at jobcentres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow and for June 1984 the equivalent numbers of unemployed people claiming benefit. Because of the change from a registrant to a claimant based count these figures are not comparable. The number of claimants in Scotland in June 1974 is estimated to have been 75,360, compared with 329,100 in June 1984.

June 1974 June 1984
Aberdeen 1,547 8,772
Dundee 3,414 15,551
Edinburgh 6,335 24,961
Glasgow 21,149 71,578

Note: The 1974 registrant figures include adult students Ix ho are not included in the 1984 claimants figure.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the precentage increase in each of the four Scottish cities and Scotland overall in (a) male unemployment and (b) total unemployment since June 1980.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The following table shows for June 1980 the numbers of people registered as unemployed at jobcentres in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow and for June 1984 the equivalent numbers of unemployed people claiming benefit. Because of the change from a registrant to a claimant-based count these figures are not comparable and percentage changes would be invalid. In Scotland as a whole the percentage increases in the number of male claimants and all claimants between June 1980 (for which the numbers have been estimated) and June 1984 were 70 per cent. and 63 per cent. respectively.

June 1980 June 1984
Males Total Males Total
Aberdeen 3,638 5,349 5,473 8,772
Dundee 6,400 10,386 10,339 15,551
Edinburgh 10,419 14,658 17,204 24,961
Glasgow 37,604 52,675 52,696 71,578

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) men and (b) women have been unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area for up to six months and up to a year; and if he will list the figures in age bands at the latest available date.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The information requested is shown in the following table as at 12 April 1984, the latest date for which information is available.

Unemployment in Edinburgh Travel-to-Work Area by Age and Duration
Males
Age Up to 26 weeks up to 52 weeks
Under 17 455 556
17 412 674
18 399 723
19 406 725
20.24 1,892 3,047
25.29 1,151 1,755
30.34 721 1,085
35.39 579 867
40.44 409 651
45.49 381 571
50.54 559 748
55.59 469 937
60 and over 337 597

Females
Age Up to 26 weeks Up to 52 weeks
Under 17 369 456
17 387 609
18 336 575
19 320 527
20.24 1,350 2,079
25.29 824 1,320
30.34 446 703
35.39 269 411
40.44 180 270
45.49 157 235
50.54 150 234
55.59 133 252
60 and over 0 1

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many job vacancies were notified to careers offices and jobcentres at the latest available date in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The information is not available in the precise form requested. Because of the nature of the flow of vacancies, a figure for notified vacancies must be quoted over a period rather than at a specific date. The number of vacancies notified to jobcentres in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area between 4 May 1984 and 8 June 1984 was 2,810. Information on vacancies notified to careers offices is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in May and June 1984, respectively; and what are the corresponding figures for males and females, expressed both numerically and as a percentage.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The information requested is shown in the following table.

May 1984 June 1984
Males
Number 21,822 21,995
Percentage 13.6 13.7
Females
Number 9,955 10,105
Percentage 7.9 8.0
Total
Number 31,777 32,100
Percentage 11.0 11.2

Mr. 'Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current rate of unemployment in Scotland; and what are the comparable figures for France, Sweden, Norway, Austria and Japan.

Mr. Alan Clark

I have been asked to reply.

The following table gives the available OECD standardised unemployment rates.

OECD Seasonally Adjusted Standardised Unemployment Rates
Latest Month *Rate
France April 8.9
Sweden April 3.5
Norway February 3.1
Austria December 3.7
Japan April 2.6
* Percentage of the total labour force.

SourceOECD.

A comparable OECD standardised unemployment rate is not available for Scotland. On 14 June, seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment (excluding school leavers) expressed as a percentage of employees plus the unemployed for Scotland was 14.3 per cent.