§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present level of(a) male and (b) female unemployment in the Coleraine area; and what were the levels (i) five years, (ii) 10 years and (iii) 15 years ago.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 2 April 1990]: Unemployment in the Coleraine jobmarket area for the period 1975 to 1990 is as follows:
Male Female February 1975 957 342 February 1980 1,452 654 February 1985 2,853 1,018 February 1990 2,580 876 The unemployment statistics given in the table for the Coleraine jobmarket area are not comparable over time mainly due to changes in the rules or procedures for claiming benefits. Seasonally adjusted figures, that is figures compiled on a consistent basis over time, are produced only for Northern Ireland as a whole.