HC Deb 21 July 1987 vol 120 c166W
Mr. McGrady

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the present employment and unemployment figures for the offices of Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, Newcastle, Banbridge and Newry.

Mr. Viggers

At 14 May 1987. the latest date for which unemployment figures are available, the numbers were as follows:

Social security office (including sub-offices) Number of unemployed claimants
Downpatrick 1,635
Ballynahinch 865
Newcastle 1,176
Banbridge 2,169
Newry 6,411

It is not possible to give recent employment figures for the areas served by these offices. However, preliminary estimates based on the 1984 census of employment suggest that the numbers of employees in employment working in the district council areas in which the offices are situated were as follows:

District Council areas Number of employees at September 1984
Down 12,650
Banbridge 8,450
Newry and Mourne 18,300