HL Deb 23 January 1996 vol 568 cc63-4WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people aged over 50 but below retirement age have not been in paid employment during the past 10 years.

The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)

Estimates from the Labour Force Survey are shown in the table following.

People aged over 50 but below retirement age2 not in paid employment (Great Britain, not seasonally adjusted)
Spring Number of people not in paid employment1 (thousands)
1986 2,606
1987 2,538
1988 2,481
1989 2,389
1990 2,350
1991 2,396
1992 2,506
1993 2,599
1994 2,588
1995 2,594
1These figures include those who were either ILO unemployed or economically inactive, and unpaid family workers, who were classified as in employment by the Labour Force Survey since spring 1992.
2 Men aged 51–64 and women aged 51–59.