HC Deb 19 May 1993 vol 225 c216W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the change in full-time employment and unemployment in numbers and percentage terms since she assumed her present office; and what estimate she has made of the consequential effect on the Government's finances.

Mr. McLoughlin

Employment estimates are produced quarterly for the months of March, June, September and December. Between March 1992 and December 1992 there was a fall of 735,000, or 4 per cent., in full-time employment in Great Britain.

In the period April 1992 to March 1993 seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom increased by 251,000 or 9 per cent.

There has been no assessment of the effects of the changes in full-time employment and unemployment on Government finances.

Mr. Leighton

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of unemployed people in March 1990; and what is it now.

Mr. McLoughlin

In March 1990, on the seasonally adjusted basis, there were 1,597,800 claimant unemployed in the United Kingdom compared with 2,940,800 in March 1993.

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in rank order, the unemployment rates within travel-to-work areas in the United Kingdom during each of the last three quarters.

Mr. McLoughlin

The information requested can he obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library.