§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide details of the numbers of those aged under 18 years in receipt of benefit/income support by standard economic region, by month, for the period June to December 1988, inclusive.
§ Mr. Lee[holding answer 25 January 1989]: The table shows the available analysis of under 18-year-olds claiming unemployment-related benefits, that is unemployment benefit, income support or national insurance credits.
The recent extension of the guaranteed offer of a YTS place to all those aged under 18 not in full-time education or employment means there is now no need for these young people to be unemployed. Consequently, only a few now remain entitled to unemployment-related benefits following the associated change from September 1988 in the benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds.
Region Average weekly take home pay (£) National Average 78.21