§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of youth unemployment in the Port Talbot travel-to-work area, broken down into males and females; and what is the current number of job vacancies.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsOn 9 October 1980 — the latest date for which an age analysis is available—there were 1,789 young people—925 boys and 864 girls— aged 18 years and under registered as unemployed in the area. Comprehensive information on job vacancies is not available. On 7 November the number of vacancies notified and remaining unfilled totalled 177 at employment offices/jobcentres and three at careers offices, but since not all vacancies are notified these figures will understate considerably the level of total demand in the area.
§ Mr. John Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of school leavers for each of the school leaving periods over the next 12 months in the Port Talbot travel-to-work area; and what estimate he has made of youth unemployment there in a similar period.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsIt is estimated that around 3,000 pupils will leave schools located in the area in the academic year 1980–81. Comprehensive information on numbers leaving in each of the main school-leaving periods is not available, but about 15 to 20 per cent, of leavers are expected to leave at, or before, the end of the Easter school leaving term. It is not possible to forecast future levels of unemployment since these depend on a great variety of economic factors and decisions.
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