HC Deb 26 February 1976 vol 906 cc339-40W
Mr. Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the number of young people now registered as unemployed at the Tottenham and Wood Green offices as compared with last year.

Mr. John Fraser

At February 1976, the provisional numbers of unemployed people under the age of 20 were 488 in the Tottenham employment office area and 317 in the Wood Green employment office area. The figures do not include adult students. Comparable figures for February 1975 are not available.

Sir G. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of people out of work in the East Midlands Region, in the Kettering area and in the Corby area, respectively, on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Mr. John Fraser

Following is the information at February 1976:

Per cent.
East Midlands region 4.7*
Kettering employment office area 4.1*
Corby employment office area 6.9*
*Provisional.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed workers have received the grant of £1,000 for first time home buyers since 1st January.

Mr. John Fraser

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that, from 1st January to 31st January, one person received the £1,000 grant.

Mr. Channon

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for those out of work in the Southend area based upon both the old and new methods of calculating unemployment figures, respectively; and what are the comparable figures for the nearest equivalent period for 1975, 1974, 1973 and 1972, respectively.

Mr. John Fraser

Commencing in March 1976, adult students who register as unemployed during their vacations will be excluded from the unemployment figures; their numbers will instead be published separately. This change will affect the figures only during the Christmas, Easter and Summer vacations. The following table shows the numbers unemployed in the Southend travel-to-work area at February each year, when there were no unemployed adult students:

February 1972 7,415
February 1973 5,979
February 1974 5,562
February 1975 7,650
February 1976 12,576*
*Provisional.