HC Deb 19 July 1977 vol 935 cc515-7W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances persons who have registered as unemployed in Torbay, having previously left some other part of the United Kingdom and spent the summer months in Torbay, either temporarily or permanently unemployed, are eligible for financial assistance under the employment transfer scheme to return to a job in the place he or she originally left to come to Torbay, or in some other place in a non-assisted area.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, subject to various basic eligibility conditions being satisfied, in order to receive assistance under the employment transfer scheme to move from Torbay to any part of Great Britain, a person must also satisfy the condition that Torbay is the recognised home area. A person living with dependants in Torbay immediately before moving to a new area would receive assistance. A person without dependants would receive assistance if he or she could furnish evidence of ownership or tenancy of property in Torbay, or has been resident in Torbay for periods aggregating more than half the previous five years.

Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria a jobless person who has spent the months of June to September, inclusive, in Torbay look-

that 52.7 per cent. of the enumerated female population of working age—15–59 years—were in full-time or part-time employment either within or without that area. It is not possible to calculate similar percentages for the years requested because the employment figures available for those years relate to (a) employment office areas and (b) to people who work in the area regardless of their place of residence and accordingly are on a basis which does not match that of the population figures.

ing for a job would have to fulfil in order to qualify, under the employment transfer scheme, for, respectively, free fares to take up new work, a settling-in grant, and a disturbance allowance, when moving to a new job in another area of the United Kingdom; and what the maximum sum payable would be under each of these headings.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, subject to various basic eligibility conditions being satisfied, a person without dependants can normally qualify for the cost of a free forward fare to take up employment, a settling-in grant and a disturbance allowance. The disturbance allowance is payable only if the transfer originates in an assisted area and, as Torbay is in a non-assisted area, this allowance will not be payable for moves from that area.

In order to receive assistance under the employment transfer scheme to move from Torbay to any part of Great Britain, a person must also satisfy the condition that Torbay is the recognised home area. A person without dependants would receive assistance if he or she could furnish evidence of ownership or tenancy of property in Torbay, or has been resident in Torbay for periods aggregating more than half the previous five years.

The maximum sum payable under each of these headings is the full amount of the fare to take up employment and the current rate of the settling—in grant which is £15.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of youth unemployment in Grimsby at the latest convenient date; and what were the figures on the same date for each year since 1970.

Mr. Golding

At January 1977, the latest date for which the half-yearly age analysis is available, 490 young people under 18 years of age were registered as unemployed in the Grimsby employment office area. The following table gives comparable figures, where available, from 1970:

January 1970 85
January 1971 154
January 1972 287
January 1973 240
January 1974 *
January 1975 *
January 1976 462
*No figures are available for January 1974 because of the energy crisis and for January 1975 because of industrial action by some staff in the Department of Employment group.

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