HC Deb 22 July 1985 vol 83 cc362-3W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in Norfolk are currently included in the unemployment statistics published on 4 July; and how many of these persons are currently registered for work at (a) jobcentres and (b) careers offices.

Mr. Alan Clark

On 13 June 1985 the number of unemployed claimants in Norfolk was 33,238. On the same date 755 unemployed non claimant school leavers under 18 were counted at careers offices in Norfolk. On 7 June there were 8,980 people registered for employment at jobcentres in the county. However this total is likely to represent only a small proportion of all unemployed jobseekers in the area who are actively looking for work. Jobseekers over 18 are no longer required to register at the jobcentre as a condition of claiming unemployment benefit nor is it necessary to register for unemployment to use the jobcentre. Many unemployed jobseekers find work, without registering, through the jobcentre's self-service vacancy display.

Jobseekers under 18 years of age are required to register at either a jobcentre or a careers office. According to administrative returns rendered by careers offices in Norfolk there were 2,611 unemployed young people registered at careers offices, on 13 June 1985.

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the persons who are currently registered for work at jobcentres are (a) unemployed persons and (b) persons already in employment.

Mr. Alan Clark

The information requested is not available.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether any analysis is now available as a result of the limited analysis made from the 1983 labour force survey providing figures for unemployed construction workers.

Mr. Alan Clark

Results from the labour force surveys for 1983 and 1984 are now available. These indicate that in the spring of 1983 there were about 257,000 persons in Great Britain who had had a job within the last three years and whose previous job had been in the construction

Changes in civilian employment
Thousand
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84*
United Kingdom -78 -994 -419 +296 +380
Germany (FR) +264 -205 -466 -451 -54
France +9 -158 +15 -117 -218
Italy +285 +72 -81 +15 +104
Netherlands +152 +32 -21 -55 +3
Belgium -1 -79 -49 -36 +11
Luxembourg +2 +1
Ireland +12 -10 +2 -22 -15
Denmark -41 -22 -1 +21 +58
Greece +45 +173 -38 -17 -8
EC Total +648 -1,191 -1,057 -924 +261

Notes:

* Figures relate to total employment (ie including Armed Forces).

Estimated by the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Source: "Employment Gazette" for UK; SOEC "Employment and Unemployment" for other EC countries.