§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of people who are economically inactive and wanting to work aged(a) over 40, (b) over 50 and (c) over 55 years, by region. [20341]
§ Mrs. Angela Knight[holding answer 18 March 1997]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Stephen Timms, dated 26 March 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on inactive people aged 40 and over who would like a job, broken down by age and region.Estimates available for the Labour Force Survey are shown in the attached table.790W
Economically inactive people aged 40 and over who would like a job by age and region—not seasonally adjusted Autumn 1996, thousands 40–49 50–54 55 and over All aged 40 and over United Kingdom 408 204 528 1,140 North 27 11 33 70 Yorks and Humber 33 16 51 100 East Midlands 27 12 30 69 East Anglia 12 1— 15 33 Greater London 64 18 72 154 South East (excluding Greater London) 55 36 95 186
Economically inactive people aged 40 and over who would like a job by age and region—not seasonally adjusted Autumn 1996, thousands 40–49 50–54 55 and over All aged 40 and over South West 25 22 38 84 West Midlands 38 18 55 112 North West 46 20 48 114 Wales 29 19 32 80 Scotland 40 22 52 114 Northern Ireland 11 1— 1— 24 Note:
1 Sample size too small for reliable estimate.
Source:
ONS, Labour Force Survey.
§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were registered as unemployed in(a) May 1979 and (b) currently; and what was the method of calculation of the figures in each case. [21223]
§ Mrs. KnightThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 20 March 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on how many people were registered as unemployed in (a) May 1979 and (b) currently; and what was the method of calculation of the figures in each case.The consistent series of seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment figures, based on the current coverage of the count, show that the number of people in the United Kingdom claiming unemployment-related benefits (Unemployment Benefit, Job Seeker's Allowance, Income Support or National Insurance Credits) was 1,086,800 in May 1979 and 1,746,300 in February 1997.The seasonally adjusted series is maintained to be consistent with the current coverage of the count and takes into account all relevant changes which, unless adjusted for, would distort comparisons over time. It thereby allows meaningful comparisons with the past.