HC Deb 28 February 1978 vol 945 cc164-7W
Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers at the last school leaving date in Coventry were registered as unemployed.

Mr. Golding

The last school leaving date was 15th July 1977. The July 1977 unemployment statistics were collected on 14th July, on which date there were a total of 2,968 school leavers registered as unemployed in Coventry. This figure had fallen to 2,837 in August 1977 and by February 1978 562 remained on the registers.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many persons from the Coventry employment exchange have received training at Government training centre since January 1976;

(2) how many unemployed men and disabled men, respectively, in the Coventry travel-to-work area have been retrained in Government training centres and re-employed, in the last two years.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not obtainable other than at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present average earnings of male and female workers, respectively, in Coventry; and how these compare with the national earnings.

Mr. Golding

I regret that estimates of average earnings are not available for areas smaller than counties.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current waiting list for entry into Government training centres in the Coventry area; how many persons are at present undertaking courses; and how many have been unable to be accepted for training or retraining.

Mr. Golding

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 31st January 1978 there were 175 people awaiting admission to skillcentres—formerly Government training centres—in

Duration of unemployment in weeks Registered disabled people suitable for open employment Registered disabled people suitable only for sheltered employment Total
4 weeks or less 13 1 14
Over 4 and up to 13 50 3 53
Over 13 and up to 26 25 2 27
Over 26 and up to 52 66 2 68
Over 52 weeks 211 36 247
Total 365 44 409

Opportunities for disabled people in open employment are affected by the general employment situation in the area. But disabled people also have the support of the Employment Service Agency's local resettlement service in finding jobs. In addition, under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944, employers with 20 or more employees have specific obligations towards disabled people. A Remploy factory and two local authority sheltered workshops can provide employment for 305 severely disabled people in Coventry.

the Coventry area, at the same date, 213 people were in TOPS—training opportunities scheme—training in skillcentres in the Coventry area. Over the past two years, 152 people from the Coventry area have been unable to be accepted nor TOPS training in skillcentres.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many partially disabled persons are registered for employment in the Coventry employment exchange area; for what periods they have been unemployed; and what employment opportunities are available to them.

Mr. John Grant

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that information is not available in the precise form requested, but on 12th January 1978, 960 disabled people, of whom 95 were so severly disabled as to be capable only of employment under sheltered conditions, were unemployed in the area of Coventry employment office. Information about the periods for which disabled people have been unemployed is held only for those who have registered as disabled. The figure of 960 disabled people included 409 who had registered, details of whom are as follows:

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons under 18 years of age are registered as unemployed in Coventry, at the latest available date.

Mr. Golding

At 12th January, 1,583 persons under 18 years of age were registered as unemployed in the Coventry employment office area.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men in Coventry aged between 50 and 60 years and between 60 and 64 years are registered as unemployed.

Mr. Golding

At 12th January, 921 men aged 50–59 and 840 aged 60–64 were registered as unemployed in the Coventry employment office area.

Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of male and female employees registered as industrial workers in Coventry, and the number unemployed for each of the last five years.

EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COVENTRY EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREA
Numbers of employees in employment (000s) Numbers registered as unemployed
June each year Males Females Total Males Females Total
(a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b) (a) (b)
1972 96 131 22 61 118 192 2,595 5,400 445 1,230 3,040 6,630
1973 100 137 22 63 122 200 1,380 3,267 324 1,037 1,704 4,304
1974 98 n.a. 22 n.a. 120 n.a. 1,661 3,614 364 1,029 2,025 4,643
1975 94 128 20 64 114 192 3,154 6,435 750 2,199 3,904 8,634
1976 89 124 18 62 107 186 4,624 9,927 1,314 4,066 5,938 13,993
1977* Not yet available 3,070 8,448 1,042 4,281 4,112 12,729
(a) Manufacturing industries.
(b) All industries and services.
n.a. = Not available.
Note: The employment figures for all industries and services for 1974 are not available due to the difficulties in producing small area figures which arose from the reorganisation of local government.
* The industrial analysis of the numbers unemployed is now made quarterly and the figures for 1977 are for May.

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