HC Deb 28 October 1985 vol 84 cc331-2W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Paymaster General how many and what percentage of unemployed claimants in the London area are registered at a jobcentre; and how these figures compare with (a) the number of vacancies notified to his Department in Greater London and (b) the estimated overall number of vacancies in Greater London.

Mr. Alan Clark

Information on the numbers and the percentage of unemployed claimants registered at jobcentres in the Greater London area is not available. The total number of those registered at jobcentres in Greater London at 4 October 1985 was 29,711. Statistics of those registered at jobcentres do not distinguish unemployed claimants from people seeking a change of employment and others who are not claiming unemployment benefit. Information on the number and percentage of unemployed claimants registered at jobcentres is therefore not available.

On 6 September the numbers of notified vacancies in Greater London were 29,160 at jobcentres and 4,879 at careers offices. No estimate is available of the overall number of vacancies in Greater London. Nationally it is estimated that about one third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.