Written question asked by Lorna Fitzsimons (Labour) on Friday, 18 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 February 2005. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Thursday, 24 February 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his actions and policies on the constituency since 1997. - Inc figures and ref to ONS website.

Answer: Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to Rochdale constituency, the effects of his actions and policies on the constituency since 1997. [217301] Mr. Timms: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since our election in 1997 designed to better the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, the economic performance of the Rochdale constituency has improved considerably. For example, since May 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by 38 per cent., while long-term unemployment and long-term youth unemployment have both fallen by 76 and 74 per cent. respectively. The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at local area level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./.

Secondary information