§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress made in the current review of the most effective way to measure(a) employment and (b) unemployment statistics. [135445]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 31 October 2000:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the progress made in the current review of the most effective way to measure employment and unemployment statistics. I am replying in the his absence. (135445)There is no general review of employment or unemployment statistics taking place currently. However, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is involved with a project, including public consultation, for the Labour Market Theme Working Group. This includes a question on the public's requirements with regard to sub-national unemployment rates. In addition, ONS is currently reviewing the unemployment rate measures.The review began in 1999 and the public consultation stage is currently underway. This was launched in September via an article published in Labour Market Trends. The article was also posted on the National Statistics website and sent out to members of the Central and Local Government Information Partnership sub-group. Users are invited to comment on its proposals. The closing date for contributions to this consultation process is 31 October 2000.A report is planned early in 2001 summarising the responses received and outlining the next steps. Details of the implementation timetable for the various work programmes will also be included.