HL Deb 19 July 1983 vol 443 cc1148-50WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish details concerning young people in Northern Ireland recruited into permanent employment under the Young Workers' Scheme in respect of the following matters:

  1. (a) The total number:
    1. (i) male
    2. (ii) female.
  2. (b) The total number of new jobs created as a result of the scheme.
  3. (c)The numbers recruited in each of the following sectors:
    1. (i) distribution,
    2. (ii) construction,
    3. (iii) manufacturing,
    4. (iv) services,
    5. (v) agriculture.
  4. (d) The number of employers participating in the scheme having:
    1. (i) under 10 employees,
    2. (ii) under 25 employees,
    3. (iii) under 100 employees.
  5. (e)The number of young persons for whom employer claims:
    1. (i) £7.50 per week,
    2. (ii) £15 per week.
  6. (f) The number of young persons recruited under the scheme in each of the "travel to work areas" and in the Belfast enterprise Zone.

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (The Earl of Mansfield)

The information cannot be provided in the precise form requested without incurring disproportionate expense.

From the start of the scheme on 4th January 1982 to 30th June 1983 a total of 10,667 applications for grant have been received from employers in the following sectors and travel to work areas:

SECTORS
(i) Distribution 2,526
(ii) Construction 2,098
(iii) Manufacturing 3,076
(iv) Services 2,509
(v) Agriculture 269
(vi) Other sectors 189
TRAVEL TO WORK AREAS
Armagh 291
Ballymena 887
Belfast 4,603
Coleraine 727
Cookstown 227
Craigavon 821
Downpatrick 734
Dungannon 337
Enniskillen 330
Londonderry 727
Newry 457
Omagh 301
Strabane 225

As the scheme is not restricted to young workers entering new jobs it is not possible to say how many new jobs have been created from the applications received.

Running tallies are not maintained of the number of employers claiming £7.50 and £15 per week. However. I understand the great majority of claims are for the full grant of 15 per week.