§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce youth unemployment in the Belfast travel-to-work area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButlerNorthern Ireland has its own youth training programme, which guarantees a full year of training and vocational preparation for each minimum age school leaver who fails to find employment. The programme also provides a range of opportunities for 17-year-olds. This year 34 per cent. of the total provision is concentrated on the Belfast travel-to-work area. This will mean 2,451 places for 16-year-olds and 2,210 places for 17-year-olds.
In addition, the young workers scheme together with other employment and training grant schemes operated by the Department of Economic Development, are available to employers in the Belfast travel-to-work area as they are to employers in other areas.
I am confident that these schemes will continue to make a significant contribution towards reducing youth unemployment while providing training and work experience.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the level of unemployment in the Belfast travel-to-work area; and what was the level in June 1979.
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§ Mr. ButlerAt 9 June 1983 the number of unemployed claimants in Belfast travel-to-work area was 50.260, an unemployment rate of 16.4 per cent. Claimant based unemployment figures by travel-to-work area are not available for June 1979. However, on the basis of registrations at job markets, the number of unemployed in the Belfast travel-to-work area in June 1979 was 27,687, an unemployment rate of 9 per cent.