HC Deb 01 February 1978 vol 943 cc164-5W
Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures showing the numbers of people under the age of 18 years currently registered as unemployed in Birmingham as a whole, and for each employment office area, respectively; and what were the numbers at the same time last year.

Mr. John Grant

Information is given in the following table:

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE
Employment office area January 1977 January 1978
Aston 400 567
Birmingham 569 544
Erdington —* 64
Handsworth 367 379
Selly Oak 580 483
Small Heath 630 513
Sparkhill 133 192
Sutton Coldfield 89 148
Washwood Heath 448 447
Birmingham City (Total). 3,216 3,337
* Figures included with Aston.

Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers at the most recent school-leaving date in Birmingham registered as unemployed; and what was the corresponding figure at the same time last year.

Mr. Golding

The last school leaving date in Birmingham was 22nd July 1977. The unemployment statistics for that month were collected on 14th July, when there were 7,330 school leavers registered as unemployed. This compares with 6,839 registered as unemployed in July 1976. By August 1977 the number of school leavers unemployed had fallen to 7,009 and by January 1978, the most recent date for which statistics are available, to 1,450. This compares with 1,166 school leavers registered as unemployed in January 1977.

Mr. Litterick

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are presently undertaking courses at Government training centres in the Birmingham area; how many are waiting to be admitted to such courses; and what were the corresponding numbers at the Same time last year.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 17th January 1978 there were 502 people undergoing TOPS training in skillcentres in the Birmingham area and 166 awaiting admission to such courses. On 21st January last year there were 416 people in training and 445 awaiting admission.