§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the absolute total of, and the percentage change in the number of, persons unemployed(a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six months to 12 months, (d) one to two years, (e) two to three years, (f) three to five years, and (g) over five years during the periods (i ) each year since 1979,(ii) over the period since 1979 as a whole, (iii) from mid-1979 to mid-1986 and (iv) since mid-1986.
§ Mr. Lee[holding answer 26 January 1988]: Direct comparison of unemployment by duration since 1979 are not possible because of the change to the method of compilation. The following is the available information, which is also in the library.
Table A shows the average number of unemployed registrants in the United Kingdom for each year from 1979 to 1982, who had been unemployed for the durations requested, except of for those unemployed for three to five years and over five years, for which figures were not separately identified together with the percentage change over the previous year. It is not possible to give this change for 1979, as unemployment figures for Northern Ireland are not available by duration for 1987.
Table B shows the average number of claimants who had been unemployed for each duration requested for each
Table B Average number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Unemployed under 3 months 841,759 828,089 843,572 849,769 758,572 Percentage change over year n/a -1.6 1.9 0.7 -10.7 Unemployed 3–6 months 506,929 490,009 498,309 502,283 447,671 Percentage change over year n/a -3.3 1.7 0.8 -0.1 Unemployed 6–12 months 639,082 610,779 607,263 606,079 549,276 Percentage change over year n/a -4.4 -0.6 -0.2 -9.4 Unemployed 1–2 years 589,339 557,782 538,746 509,233 463,082 Percentage change over year n/a -5.4 -3.4 -5.5 -9.1 Unemployed 2–3 years 197,046 302,447 299,045 274,969 233,984 Percentage change over year n/a 53.5 -1.1 -8.1 -14.9 Unemployed 3–5 years n/a 279,052 345,289 342,394 290,877 Percentage change over year n/a n/a 23.7 -0.8 -15.0 Unemployed over 5 years n/a 90,096 149,178 227,653 272,087 Percentage change over year n/a n/a 65.6 52.6 19.5
Table C Unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom October 1987 Unemployed Percentage change on July 1986 Under 3 months 765,816 -8.4 3–6 months 370,192 -21.0 6–12 months 443,140 -29.4 1–2 years 415,998 -17.1 2–3 years 218,373 -19.4 3–5 years 261,411 -23.7 over 5 years 276,454 18.8 346W
Dates Country visited 19 July to 29 July 1983 Netherlands 23 September to 28 September 1983 France year from 1983 to 1987, together with the percentage change over the previous year. Comparisons are affected by changes in the method of compilation.
Table C shows the numbers at 8 October 1987, the latest date for which figures are available, together with the percentage change since 10 July 1986. The change over this period is affected by seasonal factors.
Table A Average number of unemployed registrants in the United Kingdom 1979 1980 1981 1982 Unemployed under 3 months 569,221 753,776 695,674 885,109 Percentage change over year n/a 32.4 -7.7 27.2 Unemployed 3–6 months 240,878 331,588 673,481 539,324 Percentage change over year n/a 37.7 103.1 -19.9 Unemployed 6–12 months 237,121 284,233 619,856 681,917 Percentage change over year n/a 19.9 118.1 10.0 Unemployed 1–2 years n/a 178,418 360,744 657,790 Percentage change over year n/a n/a 102.2 82.3 Unemployed 2–3 years n/a 74,056 97,304 203,637 Percentage change over year n/a n/a 31.4 109.3