§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are currently registered as unemployed in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands; and how this compares with the figures for 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe following table gives the numbers of school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the areas specified at March in each of the years 1977 to 1981.
March each year Wolverhampton employment office area West Midlands Region 1977 221 2,562 1978 328 3,098 1979 326 2,249 1980 290 2,588 1981 (provisional) 745 8,285 The hon. Member will know that last November my right hon. Friend announced a major expansion of the youth opportunities programme for unemployed young people, as well as the new community enterprise programme for those unemployed aged 18 and over.