§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the levels of unemployment in each of the new town development corporation areas in (a) 1970, (b) 1975, (c) 1980 and (d) the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LeeFollowing is the available information. Unemployment statistics for these areas are derived from the ward-based system and are available only since June 1983. The table therefore shows for June 1983 and the 923W latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of unemployed claimants in the local authority wards which most closely correspond to new town development corporation areas. The comparison is affected by the change in the compilation of the unemployment statistics in March 1986.
New town development corporation areas Unemployed claimants 9 June 1983 Unemployed claimants 10 September 1987 Milton Keynes 6,841 5,750 Telford 9,413 8,055 Aycliffe and Peterlee 12,761 12,386 Cwmbran 3,022 2,865 Peterborough 7,918 6,888 Washington 4,333 4,266