§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take, and has taken, to help 447W reduce unemployment in the Ince constituency.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Ince constituency will continue to benefit from the special measures which the Government have introduced to alleviate unemployment. So far these have assisted over 4,000 persons in the area covered by the Skelmersdale, Hindley, Ashton-in-Makerfield, and Wigan employment offices—which contain the Ince parliamentary constituency. The area will also benefit from the youth opportunities programme, which when fully operational will provide nationally work experience or training opportunities for up to 230,000 young people a year.
In addition, as an assisted area the constituency stands to benefit from the regional incentives which are available to firms expanding or moving there.
§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the present rate of unemployment for all groups in (a) the Skelmersdale New Town and (b) the rest of the Ince constituency; how it compares with 1974, 1975 and 1976; and how it compares with the rest of the North-West and nationally;
(2) if he will give a breakdown according to the minimum industrial classification list of all those at present unemployed in the Ince constituency.
§ Mr. GoldingI will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present rate of unemployment for young people in (a) Skelmersdale and (b) the rest of the Ince constituency.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerUnemployment rates for particular age groups are not available for local areas.
§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many young people in Skelmersdale have 448W been unable to obtain a job since leaving school in July 1977;
(2) how many young people in the Ince constituency, excluding Skelmersdale, have been unable to obtain a job since leaving school in July 1977.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerIt is not possible to give precise numbers of school leavers unemployed in the Ince constituency, but on 10th November there were 93 school leavers under 18 registered as unemployed in Skelmersdale and 392 in the Wigan travel-to-work area, which includes the remainder of my hon. Friend's constituency. The statistics do not distinguish between the different dates of leaving school, but the majority of unemployed school leavers left on or after 27th May this year.