To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were unemployed in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (a) in each year since 1997 and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available. (83826)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 12 July 2006:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. I am replying in her absence. (83826)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.

Table 1 shows the number of unemployed persons, aged 16 and over, resident in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East Parliamentary Constituency for the 12 months ending February 2004, from the annual local area LFS, and for the 12-month periods ending in December from 2004 to 2005, from the APS. Data are not available for earlier years for the Scottish constituencies introduced in May 2005.

These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.

ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (ISA). The only available figures for the new Scottish constituencies on an annual average basis are for 2005 when there were 1,347 claimants of ISA resident in the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East Parliamentary Constituency. Table 2 shows the figures for this constituency on a single month basis for May 2004 to 2006.