HC Deb 17 October 1989 vol 158 cc55-6W
Mr. Bill Michie

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will reply to Mr. Paul Handiside's letter of complaint about his experience on employment training; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

A reply was sent on 24 July 1989.

Unemployment rates for comparison between EEC member states (seasonally adjusted)
May 1989 Per cent. April 1985 Per cent.
United Kingdom 6.8 11.6
Portugal 5.5 8.6
Netherlands 10.1 10.5
Luxembourg 1.8 3.1
Italy 10.7 9.2
Ireland 17.0 18.3
France 10.0 10.3
Spain 17.6 21.9
Greece 17.4 7.8
Germany 5.9 7.4
Denmark 7.1 8.2
Belgium 9.9 11.9
1 April 1987

Source: Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in theOfficial Report the number and percentage of (a) men and (b) women aged (i) 50 to 54 years, (ii) 55 to 59 years and (iii) 60 to 64 years for men only who are unemployed (1) in total, (2) over one year, (3) over two years, (4) over three years, (5) over four years, and (6) over five years for the latest available date.

Mr. Nicholls

The following information is available from the Library. The table shows for the United Kingdom the number of unemployed claimants for each age and duration category and these as a percentage of the total work force in each age group for July 1989, the latest available date.