§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in theOfficial Report (a) the number of 18 to 25-year-olds registered as unemployed in St. Helens over the past two years, (b) the proportion of male to female unemployment in the 18 to 25-year-old group, (c) the number of people in this age bracket on ET schemes, in St. Helens and nationally, (d) the average duration of unemployment for each year in the 18 to 25-year-old age group in St. Helens and (e) the number of YTS trainees both nationally and in St. Helens, and the proportion of these trainees who find jobs with the company or training agency at the completion of their training.
(a) Unadjusted unemployment aged 18 to 24 years in the St. Helens Local Authority District Male Proportion of total percentage Female Proportion of total percentage Total 1988 April 2,376 69.0 1,067 31.0 3,443 July 2,249 69.3 998 30.7 3,247 October 2,157 68.2 1,004 31.8 3,161 1989 January 2,183 70.2 925 29.8 3,108 April 2,024 70.6 844 29.4 2,868 July 1,844 69.0 827 31.0 2,671 October 1,788 67.0 881 33.0 2,669 1990 January 1,818 69.1 812 30.9 2,630 April 1,733 69.5 762 30.5 2,495
(b) The median duration of unemployment (in weeks) in the St. Helens Local Authority District for claimants aged 18–24 years. (weeks) Male Median1 female Total 1988 April 35.0 30.5 33.4 July 33.6 27.9 31.8 October 25.8 17.2 23.4 1989 January 24.0 20.6 22.8 April 28.3 24.9 27.1 July 28.5 19.9 25.4 October 24.4 14.5 21.2 1990 January 23.3 18.2 21.4 April 25.2 20.7 23.7 1 The Median duration of unemployment is the length of time spent unemployed, which is exceeded by 50 per cent, of the unemployed. Note:—Comparisons are slightly affected by the September 1988 change in benefit regulations for under 18 year olds.