Written question asked by Lord Wigley (Plaid Cymru) on Tuesday, 3 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 November 1998. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 November 1998 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will publish a table showing the levels of unemployment in each of the areas currently designated as (a) development areas and (b) intermediate areas under the provisions for regional selective assistance. - Includes text of letter from Tim Holt of Office for National Statistics.

Answer: Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a table showing the levels of unemployment in each of the areas currently designated as (a) development areas and (b) intermediate areas under the provisions for regional selective assistance. [58718] Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Dafydd Wigley, dated 10 November 1998: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on unemployment. The information you have requested can only be derived from the monthly claimant count of people claiming unemployment-related benefits (i.e. Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits). Essentially, all people who were claiming these benefits on the count day are counted. The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits in each of the areas currently designated as (a) development areas and (b) intermediate areas under the provisions for regional selective assistance can be obtained from the Nomis database which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

Secondary information