HC Deb 18 April 1986 vol 95 cc527-8W
Ms. Clare Short

asked the Paymaster General if, for each of the pilot areas of the job start scheme, he will give (i) the number of long-term unemployed, (ii) the number of people taking jobs with the job start allowance between 6 January and 18 March or such other dates for which data are available and (iii) the average level of gross earnings for such jobs.

Mr. Lang

The information available for the period 6 January to 4 April is as follows:

Job start scheme
Number of long term unemployed Accepted applications
Billingham 1,341 3
Crawley and Horsham 860 7
Dundee 5,766 15
Ealing 3,937 3
Huddersfield 3,719 15
Preston 3,633 23
Plymouth 5,498 14
Port Talbot and Neath 2,849 21
Stoke 5,942 21
TOTAL 33,545 *122

Information on the average level of gross earnings of job start allowance recipients is not readily available. The table sets out the earnings of job start allowance recipients according to five broad ranges.

Wages (£ a week) Number
0–39 1
40–49 6

Wages (£ a week) Number
50–59 12
60–69 15
70–79 32
TOTAL *66
* These totals differ because of backlogs in computer processing of information.