§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of people and the numbers of young people under 20 years of age who are currently unemployed in (a) Mid-Northumberland and (b) the Northern region; and how these figures compare with the position 12 months earlier.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe following table gives the total numbers registered as unemployed and the numbers of young people under 20 years of age included in these figures at January 1981, the latest date for which an age analysis is available. It also gives corresponding information at January 1980. Mid-Northumberland has been taken as the area covered by the Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington and Morpeth employment offices.
Total number unemployed of which, young people under 20 years of age Mid-Northumberland January 1980 6,377 1,047 January 1981 9,179 1,768 North Region January 1980 125,796 22,152 January 1981 187,379 33,393 The hon. Member will know that last November my right hon. Friend announced a major expansion of the youth opportunities programme to help unemployed young people.