HC Deb 13 November 1996 vol 285 c273W
30. Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the percentage of unemployment for(a) men and (b) women in Ilford, South in November 1990; what it is currently; and what plans she has to introduce further measures to reduce unemployment in east London. [2100]

Mr. Forth

Claimant unemployment rates are not available at constituency level. Claimant unemployment figures for Ilford, South in November 1990 was 1,633 men and 606 women. In September 1996 the figures were 3,251 and 1,126, respectively.

However, I am pleased to say that unemployment in both south Ilford and east London is falling in line with national trends. Unemployment in south Ilford fell from a peak of 5,403 in August 1993 to 4,377 in September 1996. Similarly, unemployment in east London fell from a peak of 55,709 in April 1993 to 41,029 in September 1996.

In east London, as elsewhere, the Employment Service and the training and enterprise councils will continue to deliver a wide range of programmes to help people find the best and quickest route back to employment. In particular, on 7 November I announced plans to extend the project work pilots to a number of areas across the country, including a large part of east and north-east London, which includes south Ilford.