HC Deb 01 November 1988 vol 139 cc605-6W
Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed aged between 18 and 25 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

voluntary bodies should be able to continue the programme of school building improvements begun in 1988–89. This will help schools to provide for the introduction of the national curriculum.

Mr. Lee

In July 1988 (the latest available date) the number of unemployed claimants aged 18 to 24 years in the United Kingdom was 663,367 compared with 859,071 in July, a fall of 195,704, or 22.8 per cent., over the last 12 months.

Mr. Oppenheim

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those currently available for work in Derbyshire are unemployed, and what is the relevant percentage for each of the years 1983 to 1987.

Mr. Nicholls

The table shows the annual average number of unemployed claimants in Derbyshire expressed as a percentage of employees in employment plus the unemployed. Estimates of the self-employed, the armed forces and participants on work-related Government training programmes, also part of the work force, are not regularly produced for counties.

County of Derbyshire
Year Unemployed1 Claimants Per cent.
1983 12.4
1984 12.7
1985 12.7
1986 12.8
1987 12.1
1 Comparisons are affected by changes in the coverage of the count.