§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase financial support for the youth opportunities programme.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI have increased financial support for the youth opportunities programme in the current year.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that sufficient steps are being taken to encourage ethnic minorities to participate in the youth opportunities programme.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that a number of steps have been taken to encourage the development of relevant provision for young people from the minorities, including publishing particular advice for sponsors and the design of schemes—many run by the minorities themselves—in areas where significant numbers of these young people are unemployed. The results thus far achieved in the youth opportunities programme, especially in relation to the firm undertakings to offer places to school leavers and young people unemployed for long 449W periods, suggest that many from the ethnic minorities have participated.
§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many physically handicapped young persons have participated in the youth opportunities programme; and what proportion has been placed into employment.
§ Mr. Jim LesterI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is not possible to say how many physically handicapped young people have participated in the youth opportunities programme or obtained employment after participation. The commission's aim is, so far is possible, to assist disabled young people to compete for employment
January February March Males Females Males Females Males Females 1970 … … 526,483 85,324 520,186 86,243 517,018 84,754 1971 … … 574,989 99,826 578,701 104,968 590,015 110,025 1972 … … 782,184 144,431 781,211 143,886 780,235 144,442 1973 … … 640,383 129,046 596,734 120,786 568,853 113,784 1974 … … 505,326 92,365 507,076 92,117 501,880 88,191 1975 … … 610,000* 128,000* 624,630 132,464 632,777 135,646 1976 … … 981,308 270,518 978,817 274,610 962,494 272,079 1977 … … 1,034,011 356,207 1,016,018 349,140 989,468 338,613 1978 … … 1,070,179 414,508 1,045,196 400,667 1,014,393 384,587 1979 … … 989,902 401,318 993,933 393,699 961,237 378,569 1980 … … 970,361 434,028 985,185 436,803 979,317 432,393 * Estimated As a result of changing the attendance and payment of benefit from weekly to fortnightly the unemployment figures for October 1979 and later dates were raised by an amount estimated for Great Britain at about 20,000. For this reason figures for 1980 are not strictly comparable with those for earlier years.