§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the level of unemployment among 16 and 17-year-olds in Wales and by county; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many persons aged 16 and 17 years who are not in employment or education are not currently on youth training programmes in each county in Wales and in total; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David HuntThe 1988 Social Security Act changed the benefit entitlement of under 18-year-olds. It coincided with the guaranteed offer of a place on a youth training programme. Information is not centrally available on the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds who are neither employed nor in education and who have chosen not to take a place on a youth training programme. However, among these188W are some who, due to exceptional social or domestic circumstances, are entitled to claim income support and are therefore included in the unemployment count. The numbers of these are shown in the following table:
Number as at April 1992 Number Clwyd 73 Dyfed 28 Gwent 47 Gwynedd 46 Mid Glamorgan 158 Powys 15 South Glamorgan 31 West Glamorgan 26 Wales 424 Source: Department of Employment.