§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of claimants in(a) Greenock and Port Glasgow and (b) Strathclyde were classified as long-term unemployed in April; and what plans he has to reduce that number.
§ Mr. Ian LangThe number of claimants unemployed for over one year in the Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency and Strathclyde region in April 1989, and the percentage of total claimants that represented, is shown in the table below.
April 1989 Claimants unemployed for over one year As a percentage of total claimants Greenock and Port Glasgow parliamentary constituency 2,865 47.1 Strathclyde region 59,239 43.5 The number of claimants unemployed for over a year has fallen by around 30 per cent. in both the constituency 535W and the region over-the past two years. We aim to reduce unemployment even further by continuing with our successful economic policies.