§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans the Government have to reduce long-term unemployment on Merseyside.
§ Mr. AlisonThe best way to help the long-term unemployed, and, indeed, unemployed people generally, is to improve employment prospects by getting the economy right and creating the conditions for growth. Our policies are designed to achieve that. In the short term, our programme of special employment measures is giving assistance to long-term unemployed people and other groups with particular employment problems on Merseyside as in other parts of the country.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the percentage of unemployed persons in Bootle, Crosby, Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Wirral, Widnes and Runcorn at the latest date;
(2) what is the latest percentage of unemployed people in the Liverpool travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. AlisonFollowing is the information for the appropriate travel-to-work areas at 13 May.
Percentage rate of unemployment Liverpool 18.4 Birkenhead 19.1 Widnes 18.5 The employment office areas comprising these travel-to-work areas are:
Liverpool travel-to-work area: Allerton, Belle Vale, Bootle, Crosby, Everton, Garston, Huyton, Kirkby, Liverpool, Old Swan, Prescot, Walton and Walton Vale.Birkenhead travel-to-work area: Bebington, Birkenhead, Ellesmere Port, Hoylake, Neston and Wallesey.Widnes travel-to-work area: Runcorn and Widnes.Unemployment rates can be given for whole travel-to work areas, but not separately for their constituent parts.