HC Deb 25 May 1993 vol 225 cc517-8W
15. Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for youth unemployment in Coventry.

Mr. McLoughlin

In April 1993, unadjusted claimant unemployment amongst under 25-year-olds was 5,969 in the Coventry local authority district.

23. Mr. Dunn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of people aged under 21 years out of work in Britain at the present time; and what information he has on the comparable figures for(a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Italy and (d) Spain.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The percentage of people aged under 21 out of work in Britain, based on the latest autumn 1992 labour force survey, is 45.5 per cent. The latest comparable figures for the other countries in question are Cot 1991 and I shall, with permission, arrange for them to be printed in a statistical table in theOfficial Report.

The following is the information:

The latest comparable figures for the other countries are for spring 1991 and for under 20-year-olds
Percentage
France 26
West Germany 3.3
Italy 33.1
Spain 33.7

The rate, for the United Kingdom for the same age group and year is 15.2 per cent.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives she proposes to reduce unemployment among people under 21 years.

Mr. McLoughlin

Young people aged 16 or 17 who have left full-time education are guaranteed the offer of a suitable place on youth training. Youth credits are enabling more and more young people to acquire the skills businesses need. Our aim is to offer a credit to all school leavers under the age of 18 by 1996. Young people over the age of 18 are eligible for the full range of employment and training measures available through the employment service and training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies, including the new initiatives announced by the Chancellor in his budget statement on 16 March 1993.