HC Deb 15 February 2000 vol 344 c473W
Mr. Breed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of all those unemployed in(a) rural and (b) urban areas were classified as long-term unemployed (i) at the latest date for which figures are available and (ii) 10 years previously. [109752]

Ms Jowell

In England, in December 1999, 18.4 per cent. of claimant unemployed people in rural areas and 25.1 per cent. of claimant unemployed people in urban areas had been claiming for more than a year. The figures for December 1989 are 17.8 per cent. and 26.7 per cent. respectively.