§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the(a) percentage and (b) total reduction in youth unemployment have been since 1 May 1997 in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [105526]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 24 January 1999:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the percentage and reduction in youth unemployment since 1st May 1997 in Shrewsbury and Atcham, and Shropshire.The ONS publish a monthly count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits. The claimant count consists of all people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits at Employment Service local offices. They must declare that they are out of work, capable of, available for and actively seeking work during the week in which the claim is made.Between 1st May1 and November 1999 unadjusted computerised claimants amongst 18–24 years old fell by 143 (37%) in the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency and 695 (36%) in the Shropshire county.1 The closest count date for the 1st May relates to April's data.