HC Deb 20 May 1976 vol 911 cc688-91W
Mr. Ronald Atkins

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of young people aged 16 to 18 years from ethnic minority groups, namely, black, is now unemployed; what percentage of white people aged 16 to 18 years is unemployed; and what action he is taking to reduce unemployment among young people.

Mr. John Grant

I regret that the information asked for in the first two parts of the Question is not available in the precise form requested. On 12th February 1976, 16.2 per cent. of the total unemployed from ethnic minority groups were aged 16–17 and 29 per cent. were aged 18–24. On 8th January 8.5 per cent. of the total unemployed in Great Britain were aged 16–17 and 27.8 per cent. were aged 18–24. The Government have taken a number of measures over

Numbers of people who had been unemployed as at 8th January 1976 for periods of:
(a) (b) (c)
Over 3 months Over 6 months Over 12 months
(1) Unemployed workers generally 10,969 9,771 6,258
(2) Registered disabled people included in (1) above 375 461 810

Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the regional levels of unemployment, and the national level, for men, women and school leavers for the latest available date; and if he will present these figures showing the numbers of disabled and over 50 years who registered as wholly unemployed.

Mr. Harold Walker

The numbers of males and females registered as unemployed

TABLE 1: UNEMPLOYED AT APRIL 1976—MALES, FEMALES, SCHOOL-LEAVERS AND REGISTERED DISABLED PERSONS
Numbers unemployed
Males Females School-leavers included in previous columns Registered disabled persons*
South East 238,100 61,569 3,861 15,243
East Anglia 26,229 6,975 397 2,088
South West 77,507 22,379 1,571 6,427
West Midlands 97,622 27,851 2,207 7,413
East Midlands 53,677 14,929 784 4,973
Yorkshire and Humberside 84,824 23,041 2,282 8,299
North West 146,385 38,872 3,204 12,721
North 69,503 22,314 1,648 6,625
Wales 57,359 16,513 1,508 5,294
Scotland 107,932 37,637 3,807 6,774
Great Britain 959,138 272,080 21,269 75,857
* The figures for registered disabled people unemployed include 11,605 who were regarded as so severely disabled as to need special conditions of employment: these are excluded from the previous three columns.

the past 12 months to reduce unemployment among young people, both by expanding training and increasing employment opportunities.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have been registered as unemployed in Birmingham: (a) over three months, (b) over six months, (c) over 12 months and (d) over 24 months at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many in each category were registered disabled.

Mr. John Grant

Separate information about numbers unemployed over 24 months is not available. The other information at the latest available date is as follows:

the numbers of school-leavers included in these figures and the numbers of registered disabled persons unemployed are shown for April 1976 in the first table below. A detailed age analysis of the numbers unemployed is made in January and July each year. The total numbers unemployed at January 1976, the numbers of these who were aged 50 years and over, and the numbers of registered disabled persons who were unemployed and aged 50 and over are shown in the second table.

TABLE 2: UNEMPLOYED AT JANUARY 1976—TOTAL, NUMBERS AGED 50 YEARS AND OVER, AND REGISTERED DISABLED AGED 50 YEARS AND OVER
Numbers unemployed
Total Aged 50 years and over Registered disabled persons aged 50 years and over*
South East 296,342 71,610 8,229
East Anglia 33,446 9,260 1,261
South West 100,899 26,535 3,410
West Midlands 129,599 30,167 3,877
East Midlands 71,553 17,948 2,532
Yorkshire and Humberside 109,314 25,927 4,408
North West 189,319 37,823 6,357
North 94,083 22,323 3,567
Wales 77,199 16,485 2,874
Scotland 150,072 29,439 3,579
Great Britain 1,251,826 287,517 40,094
* The figures for registered disabled people unemployed aged 50 years and over include 5,853 who were regarded as so severely disabled as to need special conditions of employment; these are excluded from the previous two columns.