The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)
Further to the written answers given to the Member for Glasgow East on 24 June 2013, Official Report, columns 12-13W, I would like to provide further information in response to each of these questions:
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many people in Scotland have been unemployed for two years or more in each month since May 2010. [161099]
Michael Moore: The number of people aged 16 to 64 claiming jobseeker allowance for more than 24 months in Scotland is outlined in the following table:
Date | Claiming Over Two Years (Number) |
|---|---|
May 2010 | 3,385 |
June 2010 | 3,630 |
July 2010 | 3,825 |
August 2010 | 4,125 |
September 2010 | 4,325 |
October 2010 | 4,485 |
November 2010 | 4,510 |
December 2010 | 4,600 |
January 2011 | 4,810 |
February 2011 | 4,840 |
March 2011 | 4,785 |
April 2011 | 4,810 |
May 2011 | 4,920 |
June 2011 | 5,060 |
July 2011 | 5,270 |
August 2011 | 5,525 |
September 2011 | 5,755 |
October 2011 | 6,190 |
November 2011 | 6,570 |
December 2011 | 6,955 |
January 2012 | 7,405 |
February 2012 | 7,900 |
March 2012 | 8,370 |
April 2012 | 8,940 |
May 2012 | 9,470 |
June 2012 | 10,280 |
July 2012 | 10,940 |
August 2012 | 11,600 |
September 2012 | 12,315 |
October 2012 | 13,020 |
November 2012 | 13,745 |
December 2012 | 14,685 |
January 2013 | 15,470 |
February 2013 | 16,420 |
March 2013 | 17,315 |
April 2013 | 18,065 |
May 2013 | 18,515 |
Source: ONS Crown Copyright Reserved [from Nomis]. |
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 469W, on unemployment, what the geographical location of the increase in employment from February to April 2013 is; and what proportion of such jobs are (a) full-time and (b) part-time. [161152]
Michael Moore: The latest available ONS employment data, at a sub-Scotland level, covers the period between January 2012 and December 2012. Data on full and part-time work are only available at Scotland-level for the same period. Information for the period that includes February to April 2013 is expected to become available in October 2013.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 469W, on unemployment, what assessment he has made of the total loss to the Scottish economy as a result of under-employment. [161153]
Michael Moore: An ONS report of November found that between 2005 and 2008, the average under-employment rate for Scotland was 7.2% (UK average rate over same period was 6.7%). For the period 2009 to 2012, the average under-employment rate for Scotland was 9.9% (UK average rate over same period was 9.9%). In line with other economic indicators, this increase reflects the effects of the global recession.
However, recent assessments of the economy in Scotland over the last year show that: there are 43,000 more people in employment; unemployment has decreased by 25,000 and 6,800 fewer people are claiming benefit. In addition, since the coalition came into power, over 145,000 more private sector jobs have been created in Scotland. This is welcome news and the Scotland Office will continue to work with partners in Scotland to improve all areas of the labour market.