HC Deb 05 February 1985 vol 72 cc479-81W
15. Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what new initiatives he is considering to reduce the level of youth unemployment.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The Government are considering a number of options for the enhancement of provision for young people, including the possibilities of extending training opportunities.

16. Mr. Clay

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been out of work for more than two years.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, a total of 761,000 claimants had been unemployed in the United Kingdom for more than two years.

25. Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been out of work for over 12 months to the latest available date; and what were the comparable figures in May 1979.

Mr. Alan Clark

The following table gives the available information for the United Kingdom. Figures are given for registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May) and in October 1982, and for unemployed claimants in October 1982 and January 1985.

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, not longer need to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.

Unemployed for over 52 weeks—United Kingdom
Number
Registered unemployed
April 1979 366,711
October 1982 1,169,558

Number
Unemployed claimants
October 1982 989,306
January 1985 1,316,074

36. Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for more than 12 months; and what were the comparable figures for January 1979, January 1980, January 1981, January 1982, January 1983 and January 1984.

42. Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for more than 12 months; and what were the comparable figures in January for each of the past six years.

Mr. Alan Clark

The following table gives the figures at January of each year for Great Britain. The comparisons are affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982 and also by the 1983 budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 and over, no longer need to sign on at an unemployment benefit office in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.

Unemployed over one year
Number
Registered unemployed
January 1979 334,800
January 1980 335,128
January 1981 430,260
January 1982 862,543
October 1982 1,118,157
Unemployed Claimants
October 1982 942,006
January 1983 1,058,611
January 1984 1,131,966
January 1985 1,136,074

37. Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of unemployed young people under the age of 25 years in the European Economic Community as a whole; and how this compares with the figure for 1978.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

In November 1984 39.6 per cent. of those unemployed in the European Community (excluding Greece) were aged under 25 years, as estimated by the statistical office of the European Communities. Comparable figures are not available for 1978.

50. Mr. Tony Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for over 24 months; and what were the comparable figures for April 1979.

Mr. Alan Clark

The following table gives the available information for the United Kingdom. Figures are given for registered unemployed in April 1979 and October 1982, and for unemployed claimants in October 1982 and January 1985.

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.

Unemployed for over 24 months—United Kingdom
Number
Registered unemployed
April 1979 179,784
October 1982 476,268
Unemployed Claimants
October 1982 433,984
January 1985 761,425

65. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current percentage of people unemployed; and what are the numbers involved.

74. Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present numbers of unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what percentage this is of the work force.

75. Mr. McKelvey

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest level of unemployment.

76. Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of unemployed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 10 January 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,341,000, which represents an unemployment rate of 13.9 per cent.

70. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what conclusions he has drawn from the unemployment statistics since the last quarter commenced for the calendar year 1984.

Mr. Alan Clark

Recent statistics, including those for January, indicate that unemployment continues to rise. The seasonally adjusted level of unemployment rose by an average of 9,000 a month in the three months to January 1985. This compares with an average monthly increase of 15,000 in the previous three months.

56. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the trend in unemployment.

Mr. Alan Clark

Recent figures indicate that unemployment continues to rise. The latest statistics indicate that the seasonally adjusted level of unemployment rose by an average of 9,000 a month in the 3 months to January.