To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many construction firm start ups there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area or the lowest geographical area for which data are available. (313979)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 27 January 2010:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many construction firm start ups there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area or the lowest geographical area for which data are available. [313979].

Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available for 2002 onwards from the ONS release on Business Demography at:

www.statistics.gov.uk

The attached table contains the latest statistics available on business births for the construction industry by district, counties and unitary authorities within region and country. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate her Department has made of the number of people seeking jobs in the construction industry. (313980)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 27 January 2010:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of people seeking jobs in the construction industry. (313980).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics on the number of people seeking jobs based on claims for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The JSA system collects information on the occupation sought by claimants, rather than the industry that they are seeking a job in.

For this question we have defined occupations in the construction industry using the Standard Occupational Classification 2000 as: skilled construction and building trades; construction plant operatives; and elementary construction occupations. Other occupations that may have some association with the construction industry have not been included. Individuals who are not claiming JSA but are seeking jobs in the construction industry are also not included.

In December 2009 the number of JSA claimants who were seeking jobs in the occupations listed above was 210,260.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk