Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 December 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 December 2001. It was answered by Ruth Kelly (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 December 2001 on behalf of the Office for National Statistics.

Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage of people over the age of 16 in rural areas had been unemployed for over 12 months in June of each of the last four years. - Including text of letter from Len Cook of Office for National Statistics.

Answer: Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of people over the age of 16 in rural areas had been unemployed for over 12 months in June of each of the last four years. [22034] Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Bercow, dated 11 December 2001: As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about unemployment in rural areas (22034). The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of unemployment, based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition. However, it does not currently provide estimates of unemployment on an urban/rural basis. The ONS is aware of the growing need for statistics and information to be available for rural and urban geographies. To this end, we are playing an active role in a cross-government group, led by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which is developing guidance on common definitions of rural and urban areas. These definitions will then form the basis of developing statistics for those geographies.

Secondary information