§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest level of unemployment, as a percentage and in actual figures, on Merseyside and in 100W Liverpool in particular; and what steps are being taken to create employment.
§ Mr. Golding:On 13th October there were 88,539 persons unemployed in the Merseyside special development area, including 77,852 in the Liverpool travelto-work area. These represented unemployment rates of 11.7 per cent. and 12.1 per cent. respectively.
All the Government's special employment measures, which have so far benefited over 32,000 persons on Merseyside, will continue to be available. Further benefits particularly for young people should result from the schemes which my right hon. Friend announced on 29th June including the youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme. In the longer term, Merseyside, which has special development area status, should benefit from the regional incentives which are available to firms expanding or moving there. The incentives for SDAs have recently been strengthened by the provision of more favourable terms for selective financial assistance and for new tenants of advance factories. In addition, the area should benefit from the allocation of a further £400 million to the construction industry which the Chancellor announced on 26th October.
§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youths below the age of 18 years are unemployed on Merseyside, and in Liverpool in particular ; and what steps are being taken to create opportunities and employment for them.
§ Mr. Golding:The latest unemployment statistics analysed by age were collected on 14th July 1977. There were at that time 19,875 under 18 unemployed in Merseyside as a whole and 8,423 in Liverpool.
Since their introduction in 1975 a wide range of special measures for alleviating unemployment have been available on Merseyside. Under the job creation scheme 852 projects have been approved providing 11,500 jobs, of which about 30 per cent. have been taken up by young people ; 427 schemes have been supported under the work experience programme with some 1,370 young people participating ; and the employment of 2,606 young 101W people has been assisted under the youth employment subsidy scheme. 300 places are available under community industry, and 36 short industrial courses with 490 training places exclusively for young people are currently being provided by the Training Services Agency. A further 22 courses with 400 places are open to young people as well as adults. Many other young people have been assisted with apprenticeships and other training under various schemes provided by industry training boards.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the most recent unemployment figures on Merseyside.
§ Mr. Golding:On 13th October the unemployment rate for the Merseyside special development area stood at 11.7 per cent. which, although representing a decrease over the previous month, was still far too high. This rate is a reflection of both the longer term structural problems from which Merseyside continues to suffer and of the effects of the present national economic recession.
In addition to help under their regional policy the Government have introduced a number of special employment measures which, so far, have helped over 32.000 people on Merseyside. Also, Merseyside will stand to benefit from the various measures announced on 29th June, including the youth opportunities programme, which will provide nationally work experience or training opportunities for up to 230,000 young people a year.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to pay an official visit to Merseyside to study unemployment problems.
§ Mr. Golding:My right hon. Friend plans to visit Merseyside in the near future.