HC Deb 10 April 1984 vol 58 cc194-5W
Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people under the age of 20 years in Wales have never had (a) full-time employment and (b) part-time employment.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

The information is not available in the form requested. Available information relating to unemployed claimants aged 18 or under in Wales on 8 March 1984 is as follows:

Age Number
Under 18 5,157
18 5,443

The figures are those of unemployed school leavers — that is, young people who had not entered employment since terminating full-time education.

Separate figures for those aged 19 who fall into the same category are not distinguished in the available statistics which cover the wider age band of 19 and over.

Area (Sq miles) Population* (of which economically active) Jobcentres †
North/Mid Wales 4,394 715,993 33
(297,785)
West Wales 2,542 686,659 27
(312,961)
South and Mid Glamorgan 553 910,488 25
(401,004)
Gwent 530 436,500 15
(198,226)
8,019 2,749,640 100
(1,209,976)
* 1981 Census of Population
† Including all sizes and types of facility.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of people registered with jobcentres in Wales as unemployed; and what is the average number per jobcentre.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

A breakdown between employed and unemployed registrants is not available. On 2 March 1984, 60,142 people were registered at the 100 jobcentres in Wales. Given the widely diverse size and circumstances of jobcentres, a crude average of the number of registrants at each would not be meaningful.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of job vacancies held by jobcentres in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

On 2 March 1984 there were 7,049 vacancies held at jobcentres in Wales. Vacancies notified to jobcentres represent only a part of vacancies existing in the country as a whole at any one time.