HC Deb 18 July 1983 vol 46 cc49-52W
Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of unemployed persons have been out of work for (a) more than six months and (b) more than one year in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens.

Mr. Gummer

The unemployment count in April, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available, showed that, in the St. Helens jobcentre area, 22.0 per cent. of claimants had been unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks and 43.1 per cent. had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the approximate number of persons removed from the unemployment register in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens since the introduction of the new system of compiling unemployment figures.

Mr. Gummer

By the date of the June unemployment count, approximately 590 men aged 60 and over in the St. Helens travel-to-work area no longer had to sign on at an unemployment benefit office, following the Budget measures dealing with the payment of national insurance contribution credits and the higher rates of supplementary benefit.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens.

Mr. Gummer

The June count of unemployed claimants in the St. Helens jobcentre area was 11,096. This does not include 432 school leavers under 18 years of age not yet entitled to benefit.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the approximate number of 16 to 18-year-olds available for each existing job vacancy in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens.

Mr. Gummer

From the April unemployment count, the latest date for which an analysis by age is available, there were 1,468 unemployed claimants aged 18 years and under in the St. Helens jobcentre area. The count of vacancies for the same month showed that there were 135 notified vacancies remaining unfilled at the St. Helens jobcentre and seven at the careers office.

Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of this, and of possible duplication between the separate figures for jobcentres and careers offices, it is not possible to provide satisfactory totals from which the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed can be calculated.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many jobs were lost in the following industries in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 to the latest available date in 1983 (a) coal, (b) glass, (c) engineering, (d) chemicals, (e) printing and packaging and (f) clerical;

(2) how many jobs have been lost in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens in the past 12 months;

(3) how many new jobs have been created in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens in the past 12 months; and how many have been created in each standard industrial classification category.

Mr. Gummer

I regret that the information is not available. The number of net job losses or gains may be calculated by comparing employment figures at different dates, but these are not available for areas below regional level except from censuses of employment. Information is available from the June 1978 census but local results of the following census (for September 1981) are not yet ready.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the approximate number of 18 to 59-year-olds available for each existing job vacancy in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens.

Mr. Gummer

From the April unemployment count, the latest date for which an analysis by age is available, there were 10,216 unemployed claimants aged 18 to 59 years in the St. Helens jobcentre area.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the approximate number of persons currently engaged in Manpower Services Commission schemes for the unemployed in the St. Helens travel-to-work area or its approximation.

Mr. Peter Morrison

At the end of May, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,203 people were employed on schemes in the St. Helens area under the community programme and the community enterprise programme.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the approximate number of persons involved in training opportunities programme schemes in the St. Helens travel-to-work area or its nearest approximation.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Approximately 170 people are currently being supported on training opportunities scheme courses in the St. Helens metropolitan borough.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the approximate number of persons placed on the youth training scheme in the St. Helens travel-to-work area or its nearest approximation.

Mr. Peter Morrison

A total of 125 young people had entered the youth training scheme in the metropolitan borough of St. Helens by 12 July 1983.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of unemployed (a) males and (b) females in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens for the following age groups; 16 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, 45 to 54 years and 55 to 59 years, respectively.

Mr. Gummer

The following table gives the information from the April unemployment count, the latest date for which an age analysis is available.

Numbers of Shorthold Tenancies Noted on Rent Registrations
(a) Fixed term of shorthold: years Less than 1½ 1½to2½ over2½, less than3½ 3½ or more Not stated All
GREATER LONDON
Number of cases 249 76 21 9 48 403
Percentage (62) (19) (5) (2) (12) (100)
REST OF ENGLAND AND WALES
Number of cases 3,159 1,037 265 225 610 5,296
Percentage (60) (20) (5) (4) (12) (100)

Percentage of total unemployed
Age Males Females
Under 20 years 14.9 30.4
20 to 24 years 17.5 22.1
25 to 34 years 21.9 19.9
35 to 44 years 15.1 9.8
45 to 54 years 13.2 10.6
55 to 59 years 9.6 7.2

Unemployment rates by age for local areas are not available.

Mr. Bermingham

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed 16 to 18-year-olds there were in the travel-to-work area of St. Helens at the nearest available date.

Mr. Gummer

The unemployment count in April, the latest date for which an age analysis is available, showed that the number of unemployed claimants aged 18 years and under in the St. Helens jobcentre area was 1,468.