§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General what is his estimate of the number of unemployed building workers in the northern region.
§ Mr. LangThe labour force survey showed that in the northern region in the spring of 1984 there were about 21,000 people without a job and looking for work who had been employed at some time in the last three years, their previous job having been in the construction industry.
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§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many people were registered as unemployed in (a) the northern region and (b) Sunderland for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. The numbers of unemployed claimants seasonally adjusted, excluding school leavers in the northern region, for April of each year from 1979 to 1986, are as follows:
Numbers April 1979 99,500 April 1980 112,900 April 1981 164,900 April 1982 186,000 April 1983 204,500 April 1984 215,700 April 1985 227,200 April 1986 228,600 The numbers of unemployed claimants in the Sunderland local authority district for April of each year from 1984 to 1986 are as follows:
Numbers April 1984 26,941 April 1985 28,387 April 1986 28,859 These figures are unadjusted and are affected by the change in the timing of compilation of unemployment statistics in March 1986. Statistics of unemployment for local authority districts are derived from the new ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many people were unemployed for more than one year in (a) Northern region and (b) Sunderland for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. The figures are affected by the 1983 Budget provisions, which mean that certain older men, mainly aged 60 or over, no longer have to sign on at unemployment benefit offices to receive benefit and by the change in the timing of compilation of unemployment statistics in March 1986. Statistics of unemployment for local authority districts are derived from the new ward-based system and are available only from June 1983. Comparisons of unemployment over the period are difficult to make because of changes in the method of collection and compilation of the data.
Claimants—unemployed for over 12 months Northern region Sunderland local authority district April 1983 93,083 — April 1984 97,042 12,774 April 1985 106,767 14,595 April 1986 108,077 14,496
Registrants—unemployed for over 12 months Northern region April 1979 35,855 April 1980 33,780 April 1981 48,354 April 1982 81,959
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General what has been the rate of redundancies per thousand employees for (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the northern region for each year since 1979.
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§ Mr. LangThe available information, relating to confirmed redundancies, is given in the following table:
Redundancies* confirmed as due to occur per 1,000 employees in employment† Great Britain Northern region 1979 8 12 1980 22 28 1981 25 36 1982 19 30 1983 16 29 1984 11 25 1985 11 23 * Redundancies confirmed by the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur and based on notifications of impending redundancies involving 10 or more workers. Figures for 1985 are provisional. † Based on the latest mid-year (June) estimates of employees in employment.
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many people were employed in manufacturing industry in the northern region in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. LangThe information is as follows:
Employees in employment in the manufacturing industries in the northern region December of each year Year Number 1979 403,000 1980 359,000 1981 334,000 1982 309,000 1983 291,000 1984 289,000 1985* 288,000 * The latest date for which an estimate is available.
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many vacancies were available in jobcentres in (a) the northern region and (b) Sunderland in May 1979, June 1983 and at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LangThe following figures relate to the numbers of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres in the northern region and at Sunderland jobcentre. Figures for May 1979 exclude self-employed vacancies.
Northern Region Sunderland Jobcentre May 1979 10,585 766 June 1983 6,239 281 April 1986 8,753 569
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many vacancies were available at careers offices in (a) the northern region and (b) Sunderland in May 1979, June 1983 and at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LangThe following figures relate to the numbers of unfilled vacancies at careers offices in the northern region and at Sunderland careers office.
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Northern Region Sunderland Careers Office May 1979 744 33 June 1983 304 17 April 1986 317 34
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many places were available at skill centres in the northern region in 1979 and at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. TrippierI regret that figures for 1979 are not available. 68,000 weeks of training were provided in the northern region of the skills training agency in 1985–86.
Since 1983 statistics on skillcentre training volumes have been kept in terms of training weeks provided, rather than places available.
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General how many people were employed in (a) the northern region and (b) Sunderland in 1979, 1983 and the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LangThe available information is given in the table. For areas smaller than regions, this information is available only for those dates when censuses of employment are taken. The table therefore includes the available information from the 1978 and 1981 censuses of employment. More-up-to-date employee figures for local areas will become available following publication of the 1984 census of employment later this year.
Employees in employment (thousands) Northern region Sunderland jobcentre area June 1978 1,242.0 66.0 September 1979 1,248.0 Not available September 1981 1,119.0 59.0 September 1983 1,047.0 Not available December 1985* 1,044.0 Not available * Latest available.
§ Mr. Clayasked the Paymaster General what were the unemployment figures by ward for Sunderland as at (a) May 1979, (b) June 1983 and (c) the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. Figures are given showing the numbers of unemployed claimants in June 1983 and April 1986 in the wards of the Sunderland local authority district. This comparison is affected by seasonal factors, the 1983 Budget provisions, which meant that certain older men, mainly aged 60 and over no longer have to sign on to obtain national insurance credits or supplementary benefits, and by the change in the timing of compilation of unemployment statistics in March 1986. Statistics of unemployment for local electoral wards are derived from the new ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.
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June 1983 April 1986 Bishopwearmouth 1,027 1,147 Castletown 721 789 Central 806 821 Colliery 683 718 Deptford and Pallion 1,287 1,499 Downhill 1,321 1,377 Ford and Pennywell 2,195 2,274 Fulwell 445 537 Hendon 791 989 Humbledon 837 839 Hylton Castle 1,115 1,139 Roker and Monkwearmouth 978 1,154 Ryhope 758 863 St. Chads 956 1,001
June 1983 April 1986 St. Michaels 606 698 Silksworth 1,199 1,353 Thorney Close 1,271 1,409 Thornhill 445 504 Southwick 1,026 1,153 Hetton No. 1 421 538 Hetton No. 2 419 564 Houghton No. 1 642 747 Houghton No. 2 609 872 Houghton No. 3 726 936 Washington No. 1 1,169 1,291 Washington No. 2 3,164 3,647
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Paymaster General what particular plans he has to seek to reduce youth unemployment (a) in Lancashire and (b) in Burnley.
§ Mr. TrippierA reduction in youth unemployment in Lancashire and Burnley depends on a sustained improvement in the performance of industry, business and the economy as a whole. Our economic policies are designed to create the conditions for that improvement and we are making substantial progress. We also need levels of pay which ensure the competitiveness of our industry.
In 1986–87 two-year YTS will provide 8,651 places in Lancashire and 770 in Burnley, with a further 1,898 and 152 continuation places respectively being provided for young people who entered training last year. The job prospects of those completing YTS and those ineligible for training will be further enhanced by the new workers scheme.
Those young people who have been unemployed for some time will be able to benefit from temporary employment under the community programme. In 1986–87, 6,218 places will be available in Lancashire and 513 in Burnley. Our other employment measures will also directly or indirectly benefit young people.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Paymaster General what was the level of youth unemployment in the Burnley travel-to-work area at the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in 1979 and subsequent years.
§ Mr. LangThe following information is in the Library. On 10 April 1986, the number of claimants in the Burnley travel-to-work area aged under 25 years was 2,113. The corresponding figures for April 1984 and April 1985 were 2,011 and 2,033 respectively. This comparison is affected by the change in the timing of compilation of unemployment statistics in March 1986 Larger discontinuities occurred in the local area statistics in 1982 and 1983, with the change in the basis of—the count, the introduction of ward-based statistics and the revision to boundaries of travel-to-work areas. Therefore, the figures for earlier years are not directly comparable.