§ Mr. Favellasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the trend on employment in the north-west.
§ The Prime MinisterThe latest estimate for the civilian employed labour force (that is employees in employment plus the self-employed) in the north-west is 2,545,000 in June this year. This compares with 2,530,000 in June 1986.
To help in the process of job creation, the north-west attracts very high levels of Government assistance. Many parts have assisted area status and benefit under the urban programme. Two city action teams, two urban development corporations and three inner city task forces operate there and there are three enterprise zones.
The Department of Employment and the Manpower Services Commission operate over 30 employment, enterprise and training measures described in the "Action for Jobs" booklet, all of which are available in the northwest. For example, around 63,000 in the north-west are training under YTS and around 35,000 are currently benefiting from the community programme.