To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland have been unemployed for more than 10 years and more than 15 years; and for each period, how many are (a) male and (b) female.

[holding answer 20 March 1990]: The information, at 8 February 1990, is as follows:

	Male	Female	Total
More than 10 years	4,104	381	4,485
More than 15 years	650	60	710

The figures are not mutually exclusive since those unemployed for more than 15 years will also be included in the more than 10 years category.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the longest period of continuous unemployment for any person in Northern Ireland at the present time; and whether the person concerned is a male or a female.

[holding answer 20 March 1990]: The information requested, at 8 February 1990, is 28 years nine months and the person concerned is male.