§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the increase in percentage and actual terms in unemployment among ethnic minorities, showing age groups, and, in particular, school leavers and other young people, for the latest 12 months for which figures are available; what are the comparable figures for the increase in total unemployment and the comparable figures in those regions which account for most ethnic minority unemployment; and what special action he has taken and intends to take to deal with this situation.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe latest available age analysis for unemployed ethnic minority workers is for February and the latest for all unemployed people is for January.
Table 1 below gives the actual and percentage increases by age group between February 1980 and February 1981 for unemployed ethnic minority workers in Great Britain. It also gives the increases for corresponding age groups of all unemployed people between January 1980 and January 1981. Unemployed ethnic minority school leavers are not separately identified.
Table 2 gives the actual and percentage increases by region for unemployed ethnic minority workers and for all unemployed people between February 1980 and February 1981.
Table 1—Great Britain
Increase in number of unemployed ethnic minority workers between February 1980 and February 1981 Actual Percentage Aged Under 18 3,042 81.4 18 2,268 86.8 19–24 10,804 79.4 25–44 17,447 88.4 45 and over 9,644 76.0 All ages 43,205 82.5
Increase in number of all unemployed people between January 1980 and January 1981 Actual Percentage Under 18 85,119 80.6 18 49,914 77.5 19–24 241,354 70.6 25–44 332,392 68.7 45 and over 207,305 50.7 All ages 916,084 65.2 Table 2
232W
Increase in numbers unemployed between February 1980 and February 1981 Unemployed ethnic minority workers All unemployed Actual Percentage Actual Percentage South-East 17,969 79.7 229,856 77.5
Increase in numbers unemployed between February 1980 and February 1981 Unemployed ethnic minority workers All unemployed Actual Percentage Actual Percentage West Midlands 11,511 92.6 137,502 101.6 East Midlands 2,643 49.9 65,644 79.9 Yorkshire and Humberside 4,228 95.0 97,520 74.7 North West 5,319 103.7 131,822 60.5 Other regions 1,535 61.2 279,113 49.9 Great Britain 43,205 82.5 941,457 66.2 Note:The statistics of ethnic minority workers for both dates exclude young people in the Liverpool and East Ham areas and those for February 1981 exclude young people in the Stratford area.
The steps we are taking to get the economy right will benefit all unemployed workers including those from the ethnic minorities.
Young people from the ethnic minorities are getting their full share of opportunities available under the special programmes for the unemployed, and we shall continue to do all we can to ensure that they are helped and encouraged to make full use of these programmes. As an example of this, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, after consultation with the Commission for Racial Equality it is establishing a small number of experimental "enabler" posts in the main areas of ethnic