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7 Sept 2004 : Column 1200W—continued

Long-term Unemployment

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate the Government have made of how many (a) men and (b) women over the age of 50 were defined as long-term unemployed in each year since 1997; [186930]

(2) what estimate the Government have made of the percentage of men and women over the age of 50 who were defined as long-term unemployed in each year since 1997, broken down by region. [186945]

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 7 September 2004:


Table 1: Number of people aged 50 and over who are long-term unemployed(86), by gender, UK regions, 1997 to 2004(three-month periods ending May each year)
Thousand

Region19971998199920002001200220032004
Total
North East9101186566
North West1618151610976
Yorkshire and Humberside14121255496
East Midlands157765555
West Midlands20151315121085
Eastern16121074755
London3225241815131612
South East18179106657
South West1112955452
Wales79654523
Scotland171315181015118
Northern Ireland76343333
United Kingdom18315713411885878269
Male
North East69865455
North West141412137774
Yorkshire and Humberside12111144476
East Midlands115544434
West Midlands1512101211864
Eastern128752534
London22161814129108
South East1511674454
South West79743432
Wales68644412
Scotland1310121581296
Northern Ireland66332233
United Kingdom1391191049267666252
Female
North East31221111
North West34343212
Yorkshire and Humberside21110120
East Midlands42221121
West Midlands63231221
Eastern45322221
London108743464
South East36432213
South West43212120
Wales11010101
Scotland43331322
Northern Ireland10011100
United Kingdom4438302617222017


(86) Unemployed for one year or more.
Note:
Estimates for UK regions are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a high level of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution. In particular, year-to-year changes are likely to show considerable volatility, and should not be used is isolation from the estimates for a sequence of years.
Source:
ONS: Labour Force Survey.





 
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1201W
 

Table 2: Percentage of unemployed people aged 50 and over who are long-term unemployed(87), by gender, UK regions, 1997 to 2004(three-month periods ending May each year)
Percentage(88)

Region19971998199920002001200220032004
Total
North East5555574747384649
North West5161434936403635
Yorkshire and Humberside5352442433274438
East Midlands5648373337232832
West Midlands6357444654383923
Eastern5247463827382624
London5957554653384435
South East4147343627231826
South West4151382435242915
Wales5757374751391731
Scotland5146505039524935
Northern Ireland7368665549494053
United Kingdom52.952.945.441.740.235.435.231.5
Male
North East5366604853405049
North West5560445438454337
Yorkshire and Humberside6159492939395046
East Midlands6148433545252638
West Midlands6457535655434323
Eastern5343504325503028
London6459575055404542
South East4946343526212226
South West3859423239313117
Wales7672455255551533
Scotland5551555143585235
Northern Ireland7477736049484762
United Kingdom57.356.749.646.043.840.338.534.5
Female
North East6224494731333252
North West3862403731301230
Yorkshire and Humberside3225251611113311
East Midlands4549272723182919
West Midlands5954252738273023
Eastern4954382730222017
London5053513646344126
South East2349343929291028
South West4735301129122610
Wales1824113231182627
Scotland4035354723373938
Northern Ireland6320384349502023
United Kingdom42.743.735.031.430.626.027.825.0


(87) Unemployed for one year or more.
(88) Long-term unemployed people as a percentage of all unemployed people.
Note:
Estimates for UK regions are based on small sample sizes and are subject to a high level of sampling variability. They should be treated with caution. In particular, year-to-year changes are likely to show considerable volatility, and should not be used is isolation from the estimates for a sequence of years.
Source:
ONS: Labour Force Survey.




 
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1203W
 

Mortgage Market

Mr. Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is proposing to improve the working of the UK mortgage market following the Miles Review; and if he will make a statement. [186633]

Ruth Kelly: On 12 March 2004 David Miles published his review of the UK mortgage market. His remit was to undertake analysis of supply and demand side factors limiting the development of the longer-term fixed-rate mortgage market in the UK, and to examine whether there has been any market failure that has held back the market for longer-term fixed-rate mortgages. In Budget 2004 the Chancellor endorsed the conclusion in David Miles review of the UK mortgage market that "urgent reform is desirable to make the market work better for consumers in a number of areas". The Treasury has been discussing the recommendations with a range of stakeholders including the Financial Services Authority, and intends to provide a detailed update in the Pre-Budget Report.
 
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1204W
 

Older Workers

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 602W, on people of retirement age, how many people above state pension age were in employment for the same period in each year since 1992. [186770]

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 7 September 2004:


 
7 Sept 2004 : Column 1205W
 

Number(89) of people above state pension age(90) in employment, United Kingdom, 3 month periods ending May each year from 1992 to 2004

Thousand
Number of people
1992814
1993770
1994779
1995794
1996770
1997802
1998775
1999817
2000831
2001819
2002887
2003933
2004995


(89) Seasonally adjusted.
(90) This refers to men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.
Source:
ONS: Labour Force Survey.





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