§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many business start-up places there were in March 1989 and at the most recent available date; what was the level of unemployment at each of those dates; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinIn March 1989, approximately 89,000 people were receiving a business start-up allowance—then known as an enterprise allowance—compared with approximately 39,000 at the end of January 1993, the most recent date available.
The seasonally adjusted level of claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom stood at 1,896,600 in March 1989, and at 2,971,100 in February 1993.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs will be created following the additional places to be created on the business start-up programme in 1993–94; and if she will make a statement.
700W
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe objective of the expansion of the business start-up programme is to enable 10,000 more unemployed people to set up their own business. Any further jobs created as those businesses become established and develop are a most welcome additional outcome but they cannot be forecast.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of (a) the long-term unemployed and (b) all unemployed people will be affected by the 10,000 additional places created in the business start-up plan announced in the Budget.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe information is not available.