HC Deb 10 June 1981 vol 6 cc140-1W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are unemployed in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk; and how many in each case have been unemployed for over one year.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following table gives, for the areas specified, the total numbers of unemployed young people under 20 years of age distinguishing separately those unemployed for more than 52 weeks. The information is for 9 April, the latest date for which it is available.

Unemployed young people under 20 years of age Of whom, those unemployed for over 52 weeks
North-West region 58,831 5,802
Merseyside special development area 19,920 3,042
Kirkby employment office area 1,277 210
Ormskirk employment office area 163 10

The expanded youth opportunities programme is designed to help unemployed young people with appropriate work experience or training.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of school leavers registered as unemployed in each travel-to-work area in the North-West.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The following table gives the provisional numbers of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed at 14 May in the areas specified.

Unemployed School Leavers
Accrington* 129
Ashton-under-Lyme* 363
Birkenhead* 995
Blackburn* 256
Blackpool* 248
Bolton* 510
Burnley* 152
Bury* 396
Chester 172
Clitheroe 14
Crewe* 206
Lancaster* 135
Leigh* 254
Liverpool* 3,855
Macclesfield 85
Manchester* 2,956
Nelson* and Barnoldswick 97
Northwich* 159
Oldham* 344
Ormskirk* 171
Preston* 458
Rochdale* 273
Rossendale* 103
St. Helens 424
Southport 152
Warrington* 398
Widnes* 423
Wigan* 535
* Travel-to-work area comprising two or more employment office areas.

The expanded youth opportunities programme under-takes to offer unemployed 1981 school leavers appropriate training in work experience before Christmas.