HC Deb 23 March 1993 vol 221 cc566-7W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many long-term unemployed people were registered on 1 March, or on the nearest available date, in(a) Lewisham, Deptford and (b) the London borough of Lewisham; how many of these she expects to be offered the opportunity to participate in the learning for work scheme announced in the Budget; and how many of these she expects to take part in the community action programme announced in the Budget.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 19 March 1993]: On 14 January, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 3,834 claimants unemployed for over a year in the Lewisham, Deptford parliamentary constituency, and 8,901 in the Lewisham local authority district. The number of learning for work opportunities which will be available in each area from September will be determined in negotiations with local training and enterprise councils. Announcements will be made in due course of the number of opportunities, under community action, which the Employment Service will be making available in each area from the summer.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she intends to establish a work start pilot project in the constituency of Lewisham, Deptford, or the London borough of Lewisham.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 19 March 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State today announced that work start pilots will be run by Tyneside TEC, Devon and Cornwall TEC, and by the Employment Service in East Kent and in south and south-west London, which covers the boroughs of Southwark, Croydon, Bromley, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were unemployed for 12 months and more in Britain in May 1979 and on the latest available date.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 19 March 1993]: In October 1983, the earliest date for which comparable figures are available, 1,089,060 claimants in Great Britain had been unemployed for over 12 months. This compares with 974,181 in January 1993. All figures are on the unadjusted basis.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many unemployed people have started up their own businesses in(a) the London borough of Lewisham and (b) the constituency of Lewisham, Deptford, in the last year; and how many more she expects to do so under the new business start-up scheme announced in the Budget.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 19 March 1993]: Information on the numbers of unemployed people starting up their own businesses in Lewisham and Deptford is not available from this Department in the form requested.

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