HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc79-80W
Geraldine Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many vacancies he estimates there are in the North West for(a)tightrope walkers, (b)jugglers, (c)stilts performers, (d)unicyclists and (e)other circus performers; and if he will make a statement. [177131]

Council tax benefit expenditure
£ million
Government office region 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03
North East 139.1 144.1 151.7 155.5 160.7 170.9
North West 367.1 373.9 380.8 383.0 394.0 402.8
Yorkshire and the Humber 204.9 213.2 217.3 221.6 231.9 242.1
East Midlands 139.0 146.7 154.2 159.7 164.9 183.0
West Midlands 229.5 233.0 243.8 252.5 267.1 282.0
East of England 161.1 167.5 176.1 182.1 191.4 209.0
London 399.3 383.6 380.1 389.3 414.9 436.1
South East 216.0 221.1 230.0 234.6 246.7 267.7
South West 157.6 163.5 169.1 172.7 178.6 192.2
Wales 94.1 103.3 108.2 119.0 123.7 130.8
Scotland 287.0 302.7 306.6 310.0 315.6 321.5
Total 2,394.7 2,452.6 2,517.8 2 579.9 2,689.3 2,838.1
Notes: 1. All expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million. 2. Expenditure figures for 1997/98 to 2001/02 are final outturn figures supplied by local authorities in 'final audited' subsidy claims. The figures for 2002–03 are the latest available estimated outturn figures, provided by local authorities in their 'initial final' subsidy claims, and are subject to revision in the 'final audited' claims. 3Figures are total yearly amounts paid to beneficiaries, regardless of the source of funding. They include payments subsidised by DWP, those funded through local authorities Housing Revenue Accounts, spending financed by the National Asylum Support Service and benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds.

Jane Kennedy

The information requested is not available by specific occupational type or area. However, a search of the Labour Market System on 27 May 2004 revealed that there were four vacancies nationwide for people with circus skills. Of these one, for a circus skills assistant, was in the Manchester area.

Jobcentre Plus provides high quality services to employers, helping them to fill job vacancies quickly and effectively with well-prepared and motivated employees. Jobcentre Plus handles over 10,000 job vacancies every working day and takes vacancies from all employers as long as the work complies with current legislation.