HC Deb 03 May 2000 vol 349 cc149-50W
Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of those in(a) 1980 and (b) 1999 in the lower quartile of earners had no educational qualifications. [120665]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated May 2000: The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on the number of people in the lower quartile of earners who had no educational qualifications. I am replying in the Director's absence. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the ONS's main source of labour market data on individuals. It can provide information on the earnings and qualifications of employees. However, no LFS data on earnings are available prior to winter (December-February) 1992/3. In Great Britain in autumn (September to November) 1993, 1,611,000 employees aged 16 and over in the lower quartile earnings group (based on gross weekly earnings) had no qualifications. This was 30.2 per cent. of all employees aged 16 and over in this earnings group. In autumn 1999, the corresponding figures were 1,140,000 and 91.4 per cent. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the long-term unemployed in(a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999 had no educational qualifications. [120666]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Gerald Howarth, dated 3 May 2000: The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on long-term unemployed people with no educational qualifications. I am replying in the Director's absence. Estimates of economic status and educational qualifications are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Non-seasonally adjusted estimates from the spring (March-May) 1999 quarter for the UK show that 33 per cent. (170 thousand) of long-term unemployed people of working age had no educational qualifications. This compares with 59 per cent. (882 thousand) in the same period in 1984 (the earliest date for which a comparable estimate can be provided.). The measure of unemployment derived from the LFS is defined on a consistent and internationally recognised basis set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It counts as unemployed people who are a) without a paid job, b) available to start work within the next two weeks and c) have either looked for work in the last four weeks or are waiting to start a job already obtained. Long-term unemployed are those who have been ILO unemployed for one year or more.