§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of unemployed and unemployment rate in the United Kingdom and the latest figure in other EEC countries on the basis used by the EEC Commission for comparative purposes; and what information he has for the United Kingdom and other EEC countries on the corresponding figures for June 1985, June 1979 and June 1973.
§ Mr. EggarThe available information is given in the following table. International unemployment rates on a comparable basis are not available for June 1985, June 1979 and June 1973.
United Kingdom July 1989 Male Age 50 to 54 years Age 55 to 59 years Age 60 years and over Duration Number of unemployed 1per cent. Number of unemployed per cent. Number of unemployed per cent. Over 1 year 65,996 4.8 94,006 7.5 7,365 0.7 Over 2 years 52,188 3.8 76,711 6.2 3,760 0.4 Over 3 years 40,756 3.0 61,868 5.0 2,922 0.3 Over 4 years 32,206 2.3 47,989 3.9 2,288 0.2 Over 5 years 25,631 1.9 37,681 3.0 1,805 0.2 TOTAL 107,797 7.8 136,491 11.0 32,134 3.2
Female Age 50 to 54 years Age 55 to 59 years Duration Number of unemployed per cent. Number of unemployed per cent. Over 1 year 22,710 2.2 30,954 3.7 Over 2 years 16,501 1.6 24,196 2.9 Over 3 years 12,641 1.2 19,580 2.3 Over 4 years 9,345 0.9 15,337 1.8 Over 5 years 6,602 0.6 11,562 1.4 TOTAL 41,769 4.1 46,538 5.5 1 Unemployment as a percentage of the total work force in each age group.