§ 15. Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest Scottish unemployment figures.
§ Mr. YoungerI welcome the fall in seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland in March, although it would be unwise to place too much emphasis on one month's figures. Future prospects will depend on the ability of Scottish firms to contain costs, including wage settlements, and to take advantage of market opportunities open to them.
§ 17. Mr. Strangasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people between 18 and 19 years of age in Scotland were unemployed, or on a special employment or training programme, on the latest available date; and what was the comparable figure five years ago.
§ Mr. Allan StewartAt 12 January 1984, the number of unemployed claimants in Scotland aged 18 and 19 years was 22,170 and 20,256 respectively. At 11 January 1979, the number of 18 and 19-year-olds in Scotland on the unemployment register, when the statistics were based on registrants not claimants, was 9,171 and 9,185 respectively. Information by age about participants on special employment and training programmes can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.