HC Deb 22 May 1990 vol 173 cc157-9W
21. Mr. Brandon-Bravo

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total work force in employment in(a) May 1979, (b) June 1987 and (c) the latest month for which figures are available.

Mr. Howard

The work force in employment stood at 25.4 million in June 1979, 25.1 million in June 1987, and 27.1 million in December 1989, its highest level ever.

22. Mr. Hind

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of unemployment in the north-west region in April 1986 and April 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

In April 1990, the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north-west region was 231,500, compared with 425,200 in April 1986, a fall of 45.6 per cent.

75. Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the population in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham is in full-time employment; and what is the national average.

Mr. Nicholls

Consistent information at local level on employment and population by place of residence is available only from the census of population.

In the census of population returns for April 1981, 44.7 per cent. of people aged 16 and over and living in the metropolitan borough of Rotherham said that they had worked full-time in the preceding week. The comparable figure for Great Britain was 45.6 per cent.

70. Mr. Andrew MacKay

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current level of unemployment.

Mr. Nicholls

In April 1990, seasonally adjusted unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,605,600.

60. Mr. Knowles

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total increase in the number of jobs in Great Britain since 1979.

Mr. Nicholls

In December 1989, the latest date for which information is available, the work force in employment was 26,487,000, the highest level ever. This represents an increase of 1,720,000, or 7 per cent. since June 1979.

54. Mr. Maples

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total level of unemployment in the 57 urban programme areas in(a) March 1988 and (b) March 1990.

Mr. Nicholls

In the 57 local authority areas in England within which the Government target inner-city programme aid, the number of unemployed claimants in March 1988 was 982,379, compared with 643,981 in March 1990. Direct comparisons over time are affected by various changes to the count, in particular the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences. Certain areas may also be affected by changes to the redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

51. Mr. Burt

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what percentage the level of unemployment fell in Bury, North between September 1986 and April 1990.

Mr. Nicholls

Between September 1986 and April 1990 the number of unemployed claimants in Bury, North parliamentary constituency fell by 61 per cent. Direct comparisons are affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds in September 1988, and by seasonal influences.

49. Mr. Dunn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average monthly fall in unemployment over the period(a) March 1974 to May 1979 and (b) July 1986 to March 1990.

Mr. Nicholls

Between March 1974 and May 1979 there was an average monthly rise in unemployment, seasonally adjusted, of 9,484. Between July 1986 to March 1990 the average monthly fall in seasonally adjusted unemployment was 34,761.

37. Mr. Sumberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of unfilled vacancies held by job centres in the north-west of England during the last full month for which figures are available.

Mr. Nicholls

In April 1990 the number of unfilled vacancies, seasonally adjusted, at job centres in the north-west region was 23,200.

27. Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the United Kingdom; and what it was in 1979 on the most nearly comparable basis.

Mr. Nicholls

The seasonally adjusted series of unemployment provides figures that are comparable over the time period requested. In April 1990, the seasonally adjusted level of claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom was 1,605,600, compared with 1,089,100 in April 1979.