HC Deb 09 December 1985 vol 88 c538W
Mrs. Peacock

asked the Paymaster General (1) what were the unemployment figures and percentages for the Batley and Spen constituency in September 1983, September 1984 and September 1985, respectively;

  1. (2) if he will give the percentage by which unemployment in the Batley and Spen constituency has changed since June 1983;
  2. (3) what trend the unemployment figures from September 1983 to September 1985 reveal for the constituency of Batley and Spen.

Mr. Alan Clark

The following information is in the Library. The numbers of unemployed claimants in the Batley and Spen parliamentary constituency are as follows:

Number
September 1983 4,986
September 1984 5,317
September 1985 5,375

Unemployment rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

Between September 1983 and September 1985 unemployment in the area rose by 389 or 7.8 per cent. Between June 1983 and November 1985 unemployment in the area rose by 241 or 4.9 per cent., but this comparison will be affected by seasonal factors.