§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on youth unemployment in(a) Cumbria and (b) Carlisle. [131409]
§ Ms JowellThere are currently (June 2000) 2,037 claimant unemployed people aged 18–24 in Cumbria and 447 in Carlisle. In the three years to June 2000 unemployment among young people has fallen by 36 per cent. in Cumbria and by 37 per cent. in Carlisle. The equivalent fall in the UK as a whole over this period is 36 per cent.
Part of this improvement is due to the delivery of a strong and stable economy, but the New Deal for Young People has helped youth unemployment to fall even faster. The New Deal for young people is aimed at people aged 18–24 who have been claiming unemployment benefits for six months or more.
In both Cumbria and Carlisle the fall in unemployment among the New Deal client group has been substantially faster than for other groups. In Cumbria, in the three years to June 2000, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 199W 71 per cent., from 1,397 to 402. This compares with a fall of 31 per cent. in total unemployment and 51 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.
In Carlisle, in the three years to June 2000, claimant unemployment among those aged 18–24, unemployed for six months or more, has fallen by 70 per cent., from 274 to 81. This compares with a fall of 31 per cent. in total unemployment and 46 per cent. in the total number unemployed for six months or more.
The impact of the New Deal is confirmed by independent research from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, though it is not possible to measure the New Deal effect exactly in each area of the country.