HC Deb 24 April 1990 vol 171 cc164-5W
9. Mr. Franks: T

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage United Kingdom unemployment has fallen since June 1987.

Mr. Howard

Since June 1987, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom has fallen by 44 per cent.

14. Mr. Mans

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the fall in the rate of unemployment since July 1986.

Mr. Howard

In March 1990 the rate of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 5.6 per cent., compared with a rate of 11.3 per cent., in July 1986, a fall of 5.7 percentage points.

32. Mr. Bowls

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give figures for the number of unemployed in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth, respectively, for 1985 and the latest available statistics.

Mr. Nicholls

The table shows the number of unemployed claimants in the London boroughs requested in March 1985 and March 1990:

Unemployed claimants in the following local authority districts (not seasonally adjusted)
March 85 March 90
Lambeth 25,680 13,378
Southwark 20,590 11,354
Wandsworth 16,556 7,707

Note: Direct comparisons over the period cannot be made due to the changes in compilation of the unemployment count.

39. Mr. Norris

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is(a) the United Kingdom unemployment rate and (b) the European Community average unemployment rate.

Mr. Nicholls

The latest comparable data show that the standardised seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is 5.7 per cent. compared to an EEC average of 8.6 per cent.

58. Mr. Hind

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current levels of employment in the north-west of England.

Mr. Nicholls

In December 1989, the civilian work force in employment in the north-west of England stood at 2,866,000. This represents an increase of 342,000 or 14 per cent. since March 1983.

63. Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the east midlands.

Mr. Nicholls

In March 1990 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the east midlands was 95,200, a drop of 23,200 or 19.6 per cent. compared with a year ago.

69. Mr. Mills

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the increase in the work force in employment in the United Kingdom since March 1983.

Mr. Nicholls

In December 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 27,077,000, the highest level ever. This represents an increase of 3,513,000 or 15 per cent. since March 1983.

70. Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the increase in the work force in employment in the year September 1989 represents women.

Mr. Nicholls

In the year to September 1989 women accounted for 68 per cent. of the increase of work force in employment in the United Kingdom.

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