§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) men and (b) women counted as unemployed according to the International Labour Organisation's criteria are not currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or any other form of unemployment benefit; and what were the figures in each case in each of the last five years. [57082]
§ Ms HewittThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Dr. Phyllis Starkey, dated October 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on unemployment.Estimates of the number of men and women who are ILO unemployed but not claiming unemployment benefits for the period Spring 1992 to Summer 1996 are published in Table 7.5 of the April 1998 issue of Labour Market Trends which is available in the House of Commons Library. On average over the period, 84% of ILO unemployed men and 41% of ILO unemployed women were claimants. The proportion of ILO unemployed who were claimants dropped from 72% in 1992 to 66% in 1996.The figures are derived with reference to both the claimant count and Labour Force Survey results using a methodology based on the results of a study which linked the two data sources. These results cannot be applied after Summer 1996 because of the changes in the benefit system. The ONS is carrying out a second study to decide whether reliable estimates can be produced for the period following the introduction of the Jobseeker's Allowance. The results of this study will be published in Labour Market Trends early next year.