§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the overall percentage and proportionate rates of unemployment of Catholics, Protestants and others, the numbers involved and those figures broken down by gender with sources; [11685]
(2) what is the overall percentage and proportionate rates of unemployment of Catholics, Protestants and others, the numbers involved and those figures broken by male and female, with sources; and if he will give his Department's views as to the reasons for the differentials. [11689]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information in the table is based on those for whom a religion was recorded in the 1991 census of population.
The difference in unemployment rates between Catholics and Protestants is due to the interaction over time of a complex range of factors which has been the subject of academic debate since the 1970s. This is one of the issues to be addressed in the employment equality review currently being undertaken by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.