§ Viscount Montgomery of Alameinasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to seek to reduce over-recording in the monthly unemployment count.
§ The Secretary of State for Employment (Lord Young of Graffham)I have announced today that, at the request of the department's statisticians, I have agreed that the compilation and publication of the monthly unemployment statistics will take place some two weeks later than at present. The changes will produce a more accurate count of unemployed claimants and enable a more complete view to be taken of latest labour market developments. The revised arrangements will be introduced for the March figures, which will now be published on 16th April. Details of the reasons for the change have been placed in the Library.