HC Deb 04 April 1995 vol 257 cc995-6W
20. Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are classified as long-term unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [16014]

Mr. Oppenheim

In January 1995 on the unadjusted basis there were 927,078 people claimant unemployed for over a year—more than 150,000 fewer than a year ago.

22. Sir Thomas Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest unemployment figure;and if he will make a statement. [16016]

Mr. Oppenheim

United Kingdom seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment was 2,364,700 in February 1995—a fall of 607,000 since December 1992.

26. Mr. Booth

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those major countries in the European Union where the level of unemployment is on a clear downward trend. [16020]

Mr. Oppenheim

The United Kingdom is the only major European Union country where the unemployment rate on the internationally recognised International Labour Organisation basis has been falling steadily.

Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the long-term unemployed are benefiting from the Government's policies. [16407]

Miss Widdecombe

The Government's economic and labour market policies are increasing employment opportunities for everyone. The number of jobs increased by 262,000 last year. Long-term unemployed people are sharing the benefits. Last year the number unemployed for a year or more fell by 150,000. We are determined to continue this trend. This year we are making jobfinder's grant, workwise and 1-2-1 available nationally. We are extending community action and work trials. We are asking training and enterprise councils to focus training for work more sharply on getting people into jobs. And we are piloting jobmatch and extending workstart pilots. With the help of these measures we are confident that the Employment Service will meet its new target for 1995–96 of placing 560,000 people unemployed for six months or more into work.