§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) scientists, (b) technologists and (c) engineers are currently unemployed; and how many in each category are currently in work.
§ Mr. NichollsInformation is available from the labour force survey (LFS) on the occupation of people in employment in the survey reference week; and the occupation in their previous job of people who were unemployed (on the international ILO definition) and who had left that job less than three years before the survey. The preliminary results of the 1989 LFS with respect to occupation are currently being re-examined, and I will write to the hon. Member when the correct figures are to hand. The available figures from the 1988 LFS are given in the following table:
Spring 1988. Great Britain Thousand Unemployed (ILO definition) In employment Scientists, physicists mathematicians 1— 118 Engineers and technologists2 1— 443 1 Sample size too small for a reliable estimate (less than 10 thousand) 2 It is not possible to separate the figures for engineers and technologists