HC Deb 21 February 1990 vol 167 cc832-3W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the actual and percentage fall in unemployment in the Birkenhead constituency for 1981; and what is the comparable figure overall in other inner city areas.

Mr. Nicholls

Unemployment figures for parliamentary constituencies and the 57 local authority districts in England within which the Government target inner city aid are not available before June 1983. The following table shows the number of unemployed claimants at that date compared with the latest available figures.

Unemployed claimants (unadjusted)
June 1983 January 1990 Change Percentage change
UPAs1 1,130,512 658,947 -471,565 -41.7
Birkenhead parliamentary constituency 8,726 6,479 -2,247 -25.8

Note:

Comparisons over time are affected by changes to the count over the period as well as seasonal influences.

1 Urban Programme Areas, the 57 local authority districts in which the Government targets inner city aid.