§ Mr. GrocottTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment using the same definitions as in the 1981 census, what proportion of men aged 60 to 64 years are economically active, retired and permanently sick, respectively; and what proportion of those economically active are unemployed according to the latest figures which are available.
§ Mr. LeeEstimates from the 1987 labour force survey, using as far as is possible the same definitions as in the 1981 census of population, are shown in the table: 257W
Men aged 60–64 years Great Britain Spring 1987 Per cent. Per cent. All persons 100.0 — of which: economically active 54.6 100.0 retired from paid work1 18.4 — long-term sick or disabled1 18.3 — unemployed2 — 10.3 1Main reason given for not looking for work in the reference week. 2 Great Britain labour force definition.
§ Mr. GrocottTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what, according to the latest estimates, will be the size of the labour force in each of the next 10 years in absolute numbers and as a proportion of the total population.
§ Mr. LeeMy Department's latest projections of the civilian labour force were published in an article in the March 1988 edition of "Employment Gazette" (pages 117–129), a copy of which is in the Library. This contains projections up to 1995 of the size of the labour force in different age groups, in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population (the activity rates). Projections beyond 1995 are not available.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people aged 50 to 54 years, inclusive, have been unemployed for longer than six months(a)nationally, (b)in the north-east region and (c)in the Durham, North-West constituency;
(2) how many people over 55 years have been unemployed for longer than six months (a)nationally, (b)in the north-east, and (c)in the Durham, North-West constituency.
§ Mr. LeeThe following information is in the Library. The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the requested age groups who had been unemployed more than six months in the United Kingdom, the north-east (the counties of Cleveland, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear) and the parliamentary constituency of Durham, North-West on 14 April 1988.
Claimants unemployed six months and over—14 April 1988 Aged 50–54 years Aged 55 years and over United Kingdom 149,767 236,578 North-East 10,996 16,156 Durham, North-West constituency 325 519
§ Mr. KnapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people aged 18 to 25 are currently unemployed; what were the comparable figures in January 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LeeThe following information is in the Library. On 14 April 1988 (the latest available date) the number of unemployed claimants aged 18 to 25 years in the United Kingdom was 697,718. The corresponding figure for January 1986 was 1,060,136. This comparison will be affected by seasonal factors. Unemployment among 18 to 25-year-olds has fallen by 30 per cent, over the past two years since April 1986.