HC Deb 20 March 1985 vol 75 cc534-6W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are (a) the total levels of unemployment, (b) the number of schoolleavers unemployed and (c) the number unemployed for more than one, two and three years, respectively, for the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency for the latest available date and for the equivalent date in 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981 and 1980, respectively.

Mr. Allan Stewart

I regret the information is not available in the form requested. Unemployment figures by constituency are available in the House of Commons Library, but only from June 1983. The Library can, however, supply, for the period requested, information on unemployment by duration and the number of unemployed school leavers for the Cumnock, Ayr and Girvan jobcentre areas within which the constituency is located. The figures are not directly comparable over the years because of the change to a claimant based count in October 1982.

Mr. White

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are unemployed in the Glasgow, Pollok constituency compared with 1979 as a total and a percentage; and of the total unemployed, how many are long-term unemployed.

Mr. Allan Stewart

I regret the information is not available in the precise form requested. As the hon. Member will know from my right hon. Friend's letter of 22 October 1984, unemployment totals for parliamentary constituencies are only available from June 1983 and can be obtained from the Library. The Library can also supply information on the number of unemployed and long-term unemployed persons (that is those without employment for more than a year) in the Shawlands, Govan and Barrhead jobcentre areas—within which the Pollok constituency is located—at January 1985, the latest date for which the information is available, and January 1979. The figures are not directly comparable because of the change in October 1982 in the basis of the count. Unemployment percentage rates are not calculated for areas smaller than travel-to-work areas.

Mr. White

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs were lost in the industrial classification sectors of industries in Glasgow in each year since 1979.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The information requested is not available, but the results of the 1984 census of employment are expected later in the year.

Mr. White

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total of employed persons in the Glasgow travel-to-work area for each year since 1970.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The available information relates to estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in the Glasgow travel-to-work area* for each of the years 1971 to 1978, and for 1981; and is as follows:

Numbers
1971 552,400
1972 542,300
1973 555,700
1974 553,300
1975 548,700
1976 547,100
1977 535,000
1978 527,500
1981 479,700
* As defined prior to the 1984 review.

These figures are taken from the census of employment, which was annual up to 1978 and has been taken every three years since then. Figures from the 1984 census will be available shortly.

Mr. White

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the measures taken to reduce the level of unemployment in the Glasgow travel-to-work area since May 1979.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The Government's overall policies, designed to reduce the previously high levels of inflation and to offer real incentive for enterprise, provide the framework within which more jobs can be created. Our programme includes a heavy investment in training, through the youth training scheme and the adult training strategy, to produce a better trained, adaptable, skilled work force to meet the changing skill requirements of this new technological age. Glasgow, as other parts of the country, can expect to derive benefit from these overall policies. Specific measures taken by us since May 1979 to assist the economic development of and reduce the level of unemployment in the Glasgow travel-to-work area include:—

Economic Measures:

  • Regional Development Grant at the maximum level available;
  • Selective Financial Assistance under the Industrial Development Act 1982;
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  • Scottish Development Agency Financial Assistance (for example, to Glasgow Eastern Area Renewal project);
  • Local Enterprise Grants for Urban Projects (the LEG-UP scheme);
  • Financial Assistance under the Housing Acts.

Special Employment Measures:

  • Youth Opportunities Programme;
  • Youth Employment Subsidy;
  • Young Workers Scheme;
  • Community Industry;
  • Job Creation Programme;
  • Special Temporary Employment Programme;
  • Community Enterprise Programme;
  • Community Programme;
  • Temporary Short-time Working Compensation;
  • Job Release Scheme;
  • Job Splitting Scheme;
  • Temporary Employment Subsidy;
  • Small Firms Employment Subsidy;
  • Enterprise Allowance Scheme;
  • Voluntary Projects Programme;
  • Geographical Mobility Schemes;
  • Services for Seriously Disabled.

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