HC Deb 04 December 1980 vol 995 cc144-5W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why it is not possible to provide an accurate figure of the unemployed young people in the borough of Knowsley; and if he will ensure that such a figure is available.

Mr. Jim Lester

Statistics for local areas, which are based on the office of registration, relate to employment office areas, and it would be too costly to allocate individual records in order to compile them for local authority districts as well. Where information is requested for an area which cannot be defined precisely in terms of employment office areas, it is provided for the employment office areas which correspond most closely to the area specified. For the borough of Knowsley, the most appropriate figures are for Kirkby—covering those registered at the employment office and at the careers office—and for Prescot—covering those registered at the Prescot employment office and at the Prescot and Huyton careers offices. While figures are available for the careers offices alone, many young people may register at employment offices.