HC Deb 04 May 1989 vol 152 c239W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have used the jobstart allowance in each year since it began and for each standard economic region.

Region From 1 July 1986 to 26 March 1987 From 27 March 1987 to 25 March 1988 From 26 March 1988 to 27 January 1989
Northern 694 1,003 765
Yorkshire and Humberside 992 1,557 1,121
East Midlands and Eastern 921 1,288 819
London 286 292 219
South East 572 708 371
South West 430 639 308
Wales 627 1,131 768
West Midlands 1,190 1,696 1,104
North West 1,890 2,884 1,794
Scotland 954 1,493 1,139
Great Britain 8,556 12,691 8,408

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the average length of stay of workers claiming the jobstart allowance.

Mr. Lee

The information requested is not readily available. However, it is estimated that in 1988 two-thirds of jobstart participants completed the 26 weeks of the programme. People who do not complete 26 weeks may cease to be eligible for the allowance for a number of reasons, including the wage rising above the limit allowed.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the sectors in which jobstart allowance workers were based in 1988.

Mr. Lee

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the average jobstart allowance workers for each year since the start of the initiative; and if this includes the allowance.

Mr. Lee

The information requested is not readily available. However, an evaluation survey of the jobstart programme is currently being undertaken. Preliminary information from the study indicates that the average starting wage of jobstart workers in April and May 1988 was £67. This figure excludes the allowance.