HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 cc703-4W
Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people counted under(a) claimant count unemployment figures and (b) International Labour Organisation unemployment figures did not have a first Level 2 qualification in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [114485]

(2) what the proportion of economically inactive people without a first Level 2 qualification by age in each year since 1997 is; and if he will make a statement. [114483]

John Healey

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell to Paul Holmes of 3 June 2003:

The National Statistician has been asked 10 reply to your Parliamentary Questions about unemployed and economically inactive people without a first NVQ Level 2 qualification. I am replying in his absence. (114483, J14485)

The attached tables give the information requested for (a) people classified as unemployed according 10 the International Labour Organisation definition and (b) economically inactive people. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Information about the qualification levels of people included in the Claimant Count is not available.

Unemployed people of working age 1without a first NVQ Level 2

or equivalent qualification2 United Kingdom

Thousand
March to February
1997–98 690
1998–99 631
1999–2000 573
2000–01 610
2001–02 480
2002–03 463
1 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59
2 People with DO qualifications and those whose highest

qualification is below NVQ level 2 or equivalent

Note:
These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have not been interim

adjusted to take account of the recent census 2001 results.

Source:
ONS—Labour Force Survey
Proportion of economically inactive people of working age

1without a first NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification2, by age

United Kingdom

Per cent
March to February Total 16–17 18–24 25–34 35–49 50–

69/64

1997–98 40.5 44.0 19.5 38.6 46.6 46.7
1998–99 40.3 44.5 18.4 37.6 46.4 46.3
1999–2000 39.2 45.5 18.6 35.8 43.8 45.8
2000–01 38.3 43.8 18.1 35.8 43.1 44.2
2001–02 38.6 44.4 19.1 35.8 43.2 44.2
2002–03 37.3 43.9 19.5 33.5 41.8 43.0
1 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–69
2 Includes economically inactive people with no qualifications,

and those whose highest qualification is below NVO level 2 or

equivalent

Note:
These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have not been

interim-adjusted

to take account of the recent Census 2001 results.