§ 19. Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of people unemployed.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn the 14 February 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,324,000.
§ 22. Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of people under 25 years of age unemployed; and what was the corresponding total for May 1979.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 10 January 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom under 25 years of age was 1,286,000. The corresponding figure for April 1979 relating to registrants at jobcentres and careers offices was 451,000. A figure for May 1979 is not available.
§ 23. Mr. Yeoasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the total of unemployment in Suffolk.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe Government are committed to maintaining their economic policies which are directed at holding down inflation and public borrowing, while528W encouraging greater enterprise, flexibility and competitiveness in industry and the labour market. This is the only way to generate lasting jobs in Suffolk and elsewhere. In the meantime we are continuing to help the unemployed through our special employment and training measures. For example, the youth training scheme and the community programme, both of which are to be expanded, are currently helping over 3,700 people in Suffolk.
§ 32. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present numbers of people who have been unemployed for more than one year; and what was the comparable figure for May 1979.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe following table gives the number of claimants in the United Kingdom who have been unemployed for over one year in January 1985, and the figure for registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May). It also gives the figures on both bases for October 1982.
The comparison is affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982, and by the 1983 Budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 years and over, no longer need to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits. The information is also available in the Library.
Unemployed for over one year—United Kingdom Numbers Registered unemployed April 1979 366,711 October 1982 1,169,558 Unemployed claimants October 1982 989,306 January 1985 1,316,017
§ 34. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current numbers of people who have been unemployed for over one year.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 10 January 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, a total of 1,316,017 claimants had been unemployed for over one year in the United Kingdom.
§ 39. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for. Employment what was the rate of unemployment at the latest available date in the travel-to-work area of which Amble forms part.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 14 February 1985, the rate of unemployment in the Alnwick and Amble travel-to-work area was 18 per cent.
§ 43. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of unemployed persons.
§ 44. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.
§ 57. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of unemployed people in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 14 February 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,323,676.
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§ 61. Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed over the age of 40, 45 and 50 years, respectively.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 10 January 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, there were 1,011,536 unemployed claimants aged over 40 years in the United Kingdom. Of these 795,298 were aged over 45 years and 588,378 aged over 50.
§ 67. Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people unemployed; and what were the corresponding figures for March 1984 and May 1979.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn 14 February 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,323,676. The corresponding number in March 1984 was 3,142,775 and in May 1979 was estimated to have been 1,218,900. The comparison is affected by the Budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 and over, no longer need sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits. The estimated effect of these measures, which accumulated between April and August 1983, is 161,800.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the employment rates for each region of the United Kingdom from 1980 to date; and if he will express such figures as a percentage of the national average.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe following tables give the available information.
Table 1 gives, regionally and for the dates specified, the civilian employed labour force (employees in employment plus the self-employed) expressed as a percentage of the civilian working population (civilian employed labour force plus the unemployed). Her Majesty's Forces, which are normally included in both the employed labour force and working population figures, are not analysed regionally.
Table 2 gives each of the regional figures in table 1 as a percentage of the United Kingdom figure.
Table 1 Civilian Employed Labour Force as percentage of Civilian Working Population June each year 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 South East 96.6 93.9 92.6 91.9 91.8 East Anglia 95.8 93.0 91.9 91.3 91.6 South West 95.0 92.6 91.4 90.8 90.8 West Midlands 94.2 88.8 86.9 85.8 86.4 East Midlands 94.9 91.5 90.5 89.7 89.4 Yorkshire and Humberside 93.8 89.9 88.4 87.5 87.5 North West 9.6 88.8 87.0 85.9 86.0 North 90.5 86.9 85.2 83.8 83.5 Wales 92.5 88.4 86.9 86.3 86.5 Scotland 91.8 88.9 87.6 86.6 86.5 Northern Ireland 89.3 85.0 83.5 82.3 81.5 United Kingdom 94.3 90.9 89.5 88.6 88.6 530W
Table 2 Region figures in Table 1 as percentages of United Kingdom rate June each year 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 South East 102.4 103.3 103.5 103.7 103.6 East Anglia 101.6 102.3 102.7 103.0 103.4
June each year 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 South West 100.7 101.9 102.1 102.5 102.5 West Midlands 99.9 97.7 97.1 96.8 97.5 East Midlands 100.6 100.7 101.1 101.2 100.9 Yorkshire and Humberside 99.5 98.9 98.8 98.8 98.8 North West 98.2 97.7 97.2 97.0 97.1 North 96.0 95.6 95.2 94.6 94.2 Wales 98.1 97.2 97.1 97.4 97.6 Scotland 97.3 97.8 97.9 97.7 97.6 Northern Ireland 94.7 93.5 93.3 92.9 92.0 United Kingdom 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each of the six categories of employment with the lowest average wages and the six with the highest, as defined in the New Earnings Survey, their average rates of unemployment in each year since 1979 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI regret that information is not available on unemployment rates for the detailed categories of employment distinguished in the analyses of average earnings in the reports of the "New Earnings Survey".