HC Deb 13 March 1985 vol 75 c171W
17. Mr. George Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in unemployment in North Lanarkshire since May 1979.

Mr. Allan Stewart

On 10 January 1985, the latest date for which information is available, the number of unemployed persons claiming benefit in the former North Lanarkshire travel-to-work area totalled 32,635 while at 10 May 1979 there were 15,531 unemployed people in the same area registered for employment. The increase in unemployment cannot be calculated as the unemployment figures are not directly comparable because of the change in October 1982 to a claimant based count.