§ Mr. Armstrongasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Northern region are being assisted by the special employment and training measures; and what was the number in January 1979.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe information requested is given in the schedule below.
The February 1980 figure is not strictly comparable with that for 1979 because of the introduction, in September 1979, of fortnightly attendance and payment of benefit. This had the effect of raising the monthly figure for all unemployed in Great Britain by about 1½ per cent. Estimates for individual areas are not available.