§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds were registered unemployed in each month since April 1978; and what percentage of the age group the figures represent.
§ Mr. AlisonThe following table gives the available information, from the quarterly age analysis, for young people aged under 18 registered as unemployed in Great Britain. Prior to July 1978, age analyses were available only for January and July.
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Young people aged under 18: Great Britain Number registered as unemployed Unemployment rate 1978 July 296,361 27.1 October 141,885 13.1 1979 January 107,840 11.3 April 73,257 8.9 July 258,735 23.4 October 123,824 11.3 1980 January 105,656 11.0 April 108,703 13.1
Numberregistered as unemployed Unemployment rate July 353,471 31.5 October 224,943 20.0 1981 January 190,775 12.2 April 148,738 17.4 July 351,678 30.8 October 282,740 25.0 The unemployment rate expresses the number unemployed in the age group as a percentage of the estimated number of employees—both employed andunemployed—in that age group. While these figures are expressed to one decimal place, they should not be regarded as implying precision to that degree.
The high figures in July each year reflect the registration of summer school leavers.
The Government announced on 15 December 1981details of a new youth training scheme to help the young unemployed through one year training courses.
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds would have been registered unemployed each month since April 1978if the special programmes had not been introduced.
§ Mr. AlisonI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.