Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage January's unemployment figures have changed in each region of the United Kingdom over the last(a) year, (b) two years, (c) three years and (d) four years.
§ Mr. LeeThe following information is available from the Library. The table shows in percentage terms, the change in the numbers of unemployed claimants, excluding school leavers, adjusted for discontinuity and seasonality, in each standard economic planning region of the United Kingdom, over the periods requested by January 1988.
The Government have identified the employment service as a possible candidate as a departmental agency under the approach described in the efficiency unit report "Improving Management in Government — The Next Steps". We shall be looking closely at how agency status for the employment service could help to improve efficiency in the use of resources and in the delivery of services to the public.