§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentages and numbers of unemployed young school leavers in the Merseyside special development area at the latest date and in May 1979.
§ Mr. WaddingtonPercentage rates of unemployment for school leavers are not calculated. At May 1979 there were 3,849 school leavers under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in the Merseyside special development area. At November 1982, the number of unemployed school leavers under 18 claiming benefit (the basis on which the count is now conducted) in the area was 6,185.
The figures at October 1982 on the old and on the new basis were 8,171 and 7,007, respectively. The difference between the two October figures would not be applicable to other months.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage unemployment of young people under 21 years of age in Merseyside special development area at the latest date; what percentage have been unemployed for more than one year; and what were the respective figures for May 1979.
§ Mr. WaddingtonPercentage rates of unemployment by age are not calculated below national level. At October 1982, there were 30,075 young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed (old basis) in the Merseyside special development area. Of this number, 23.2 per cent. had been unemployed for over 52 weeks. The 377W corresponding figures at April 1979 (not available for May) were 16,024 and 20.2 per cent. An analysis for the precise age group specified is not available.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of job vacancies in the Merseyside special development area (a) at the latest date and (b) in May 1979.
§ Mr. WaddingtonAt November 1982 there were 2,574 notified vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres and 20 at careers offices in the Merseyside special development area. The corresponding numbers at May 1979 were 3,949 at jobcentres and 138 at careers offices. The figures relate only to vacancies notified to jobcentres and careers offices; vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for jobcentres and careers offices should not be added together.
The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the twelve-month period to September 1982, 38,654 people were placed in jobs by jobcentres in the Merseyside special development area. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many, and what percentage of males between 16 and 64 years were unemployed in the Merseyside special development area (i) at the latest date, and (ii) in May 1979;
(2) how many, and what percentage, of females between the ages of 16 and 59 years were unemployed in the Merseyside special development area in May 1979 and at the latest available date.
§ Mr. AlisonPercentage rates of unemployment by age are not calculated below national level. At October 1982 there were 105,349 males aged under 65 years and 40,954 females aged under 60 years registered as unemployed (old basis) in the Merseyside special development area. The corresponding numbers at April 1979 (not available for May) were 57,408 and 22,674, respectively.