HC Deb 27 March 1990 vol 170 cc153-4W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons engaged in Government-funded or partially funded training schemes are classified as(a) employed and (b) unemployed.

Mr. Nicholls

There were approximately 595,000 participants on Government schemes in Great Britain in January 1990, the latest date for which information is available. The schemes included are YTS, employment training and community industry.

All these participants are classified as part of the work force in employment except for a small number on YTS whose training does not include work experience with an employer.

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on how the official unemployment count is made.

Mr. Nicholls

The unemployment count is based upon the administrative system for paying unemployment related benefits, that is, unemployment benefit, income support and national insurance credits. It relates to people claiming these benefits who say that on the day of the count they were unemployed and capable of, available for and actively seeking employment. (Students claiming benefit during a vacation and who intend to return to full-time education are excluded.)

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of(a) all mothers with children 16 years or under, (b) mothers with children 16 years and under without working husbands, (c) single-parent men with children 16 years or under and (d) single-parent women with children 16 years or under who are (i) in full-time employment and (ii) in part-time employment.

Mr. Nicholls

Preliminary estimates from the 1989 labour force survey are shown in the table:

Great Britain, spring 1989
Percentage in employment1
Parents with children under 16 years Full time2 Part time2 A113
(a) All mothers 19 37 55
(b) Mothers without working husbands 4— 4— 24
(c) Single-parent men 57 5 64
(d) Single-parent women 17 21 38

Source: Preliminary 1989 Labour Force Survey estimates.

1 Includes employees, the elf-employed and participants in work-related government training programmes.

2 The full-time/part-time classification is based on respondents' self-assessment.

3 Includes those in employment who did not specify whether in full-time or part-time work.

4 Estimate not readily available.

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