§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the numbers of(a) young unemployed and (b) long-term unemployed expected to participate in welfare to work schemes in 1998–99, broken down by travel-to-work area. [27167]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 January 1998,Official Report, column 188.
By convention, the Government do not publish forecasts of unemployment. In January 1998, 118,000 18–24 year olds were recorded as having claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for six months or more; each month about 15,000–20,000 18–24 year olds reach six months' claimant unemployment. In January 1998 some 216,000 people aged 25 or over were recorded as having claimed JSA for more than two years; each month between 5,000 and 10,000 people who are 25 or over reach two years' claimant unemployment. It is not possible to break these data down to provide accurate estimates by travel to work areas.