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102. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage fall in unemployment in the last 12 months in the south-west.

Mr. Lee : In December 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the south-west was 113,100 compared with 153,900 in December 1987, a fall of 40,800 or 26.5 per cent.

111. Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the fall in unemployment amongst the long-term unemployed since June 1983.

Mr. Lee : Unemployment figures by duration are compiled on a quarterly basis. In October 1988, the latest available quarter, there were 885,504 claimants in the United Kingdom who had been unemployed for more than a year, 15.7 per cent. lower than the level of 1,050, 487 in July 1983. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in the compilation of the count in March 1986 to reduce over-recording and the change in the coverage from September 1988 due to the new benefit regulations for those young people aged under 18.

116. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lee : In December 1988 unemployment, seasonally adjusted, was 2,039,100, the lowest level for nearly eight years. Unemployment has now fallen for 29 consecutive months, by 1,094,000 altogether since July 1986, the largest fall on record.

Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by what proportion unemployment has fallen in Warrington since June 1987.


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Mr. Lee : In December 1988 the level of unemployment in the Warrington local authority area was 5,427 compared with 8,914 in June 1987. These figures represent a fall of 39.1 per cent. The comparison is slightly affected by the change in benefit regulations for under 18-year-olds from September 1988 and also by seasonal influences.

Benefits (Fraud)

15. Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent crackdown on fraudulent benefit claims.

Mr. Fowler : My Department's fraud investigations during 1988 led to savings of around £65 million and to 90,000 people withdrawing their claims to benefit. A serious problem of benefit fraud persists and we are maintaining the drive against this.

Single Union Agreements

16. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about single union agreements ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls : None. The Government believe that single union, no strike agreements can have an increasingly valuable part to play in improving future industrial relations. It is of course for employers individually to decide on what arrangements best suit their own circumstances.

61. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers to discuss the establishment of a single union agreement at the proposed Toyota factory ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls : I have no such plans. It is for employers to decide which unions, if any, they wish to recognise for collective bargaining purposes.

YTS

17. Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many summer 1988 school leavers in the Bristol travel-to-work area have not yet been offered a YTS place if they have requested one.

Mr. Cope : None. The Training Agency has made more than sufficient YTS places available for all those who apply for one.

53. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any plans to increase the non-work content in YTS ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) earlier today.

60. Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently training on the two-year YTS ; and if he will make a statement.

87. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently on YTS training schemes ; and if he will make a statement.


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Mr. Cope : At the end of December 1988 there were 419,900 young people in training on YTS. Of these, 396,800 were on a two-year training programme.

As the Government made clear in the recent White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", YTS is a highly successful programme. The task now is to increase still further the contribution which YTS can make to meeting the needs of the changing labour market.

67. Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of YTS places in Barrow-in-Furness ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : At 3 February 1989 there were 1,453 YTS places in the Barrow-in-Furness local authority district. There are sufficient YTS places available to meet both current and anticipated demand.

71. Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons are on YTS in the Eccles area ; and how many of them have their excess fares paid.

Mr. Cope : The information is not available in the precise form requested. At 31 December 1988 there were 1,844 young people on YTS in the Salford local authority district. Information on how many were in receipt of excess fares could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Job Creation

20. Mr. Ashton : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in the east midlands region.

Mr. Nicholls : In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 30,000 in the east midlands region. The only available information about full and part-time employment in the regions is for female employees in employment. This shows increases of 4,000 in female full-time employees and 16,000 in female part-time employees.

22. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in the south-west region.

Mr. Nicholls : In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 31,000 in the south-west region. The only available information about full and part-time employment in the regions is for female employees in employment. This shows increases of 13,000 in female full-time employees and 9,000 in female part-time employees.

32. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the Yorkshire and Humberside region in the 12 months to September 1988.

112. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in Yorkshire and Humberside in the 12 months to September 1988.

Mr. Lee : In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Yorkshire and


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Humberside fell by 43,200 to 218,100 from 261,300 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in Yorkshire and Humberside, unadjusted, rose from 2,092, 000 to 2,123,000, a net increase of 31,000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

36. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the Greater London region in the 12 months to September 1988.

Mr. Lee : In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Greater London fell by 70,400 to 269,400 from 339,800 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in Greater London, unadjusted, rose from 3,925,000 to 3,950,000, a net increase of 25, 000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self- employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

37. Mrs. Wise : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment, and the number of jobs created, in the north- west region in the 12 months to September 1988.

72. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the north- west region in the 12 months to September 1988.

75. Mr. Cunliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the north-west region in the 12 months to September 1988.

Mr. Lee : In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the north-west fell by 61,200 to 310,900 from 372,000 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in the north-west, unadjusted, rose from 2,606,000 to 2,611,000, a net increase of 5, 000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self- employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

43. Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the expected growth in total employment in the north of England over the next two years ; and which sectors are expected to show the greatest increase.

Mr. Lee : My Department does not produce forecasts of employment growth, either in total, by region or by sector. However, last year's White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" (Cm. 540) described recent employment trends at national level.

47. Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Great Britain.

80. Mr. Hood : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Great Britain.


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Mr. Lee : There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the work force in employment in Great Britain increased by 399,000, of which 220,000 were in full-time employment and 179,000 were in part-time employment. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes. In classifying the work force in employment between full and part time, all programme participants are counted as in part-time employment.

48. Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in the east midlands region.

Mr. Lee : There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 30,000 in the east midlands region. This includes net increases of 4,000 in female full-time employees in employment and 16,000 in female part-time employees in employment, offset by a net decrease of 1,000 in participants in work-related Government training programmes (who are counted as in part- time employment). Comparable estimates are not available for male employees in employment or the self-employed.

59. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time and part-time jobs were created in the 12 months to September 1988 in Wales.

Mr. Lee : There are no figures for job gains and job losses. In the year to September 1988 the civilian work force in employment increased by 10,000 in Wales. This includes a net increase of 6,000 in female part-time employees in employment, offset by a net decrease of 1,000 in female full- time employees in employment, and a net increase of 1,000 in participants in work-related Government training programmes (who are counted as in part- time employment). Comparable estimates are not available for male employees in employment or the self-employed.

65. Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage fall in unemployment in the United Kingdom during the past 12 months.

Mr. Lee : In December 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 2,039,100 compared with 2,568,600, in December 1987, a fall of 529,500 or 20.6 per cent.

113. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in Great Britain in the 12 months to September 1988.

Mr. Lee : In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in Great Britain fell by 516,800 to 2,080,100 from 2,596,900 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the work force in employment in Great Britain rose from 24,892,000 to 25,291,000, a net increase of 399,000. The figures have been adjusted for the effect of seasonal variations. The work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self-employed, Her Majesty's forces and participants in work-related Government training programmes.


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117. Mr. Sedgemore : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the fall in unemployment and the number of jobs created in the south-east region in the 12 months to September 1988.

Mr. Lee : In the 12 months to September 1988 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the south-east fell by 165,500 to 461,900 from 627,400 in September 1987. Over the same period the size of the civilian work force in employment in the south-east, unadjusted, rose from 8,600,000 to 8,768,000, a net increase of 168, 000. The civilian work force in employment is the sum of employees in employment, the self- employed and participants in work-related Government training programmes.

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take special measures to tackle localised pockets of high unemployment.

Mr. Lee : My Department's training, enterprise and employment programmes are already available to help unemployed people in all areas.

106. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on employment prospects for Lincolnshire in 1989.

Mr. Lee : In the year to December 1988 unemployment in Lincolnshire fell by 6,303 ; 26 per cent. of the December 1987 figure. I see no reason why the position should not improve further in 1989.

Job Creation

50. Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created in the London docklands ; and what is the employment potential for the other 10 urban development corporations.

Mr. Trippier : I have been asked to reply as English urban development corporations are the responsibility of my Department. Since the London Docklands development corporation was established in 1981 more than 20,000 jobs have been created or attracted to the area, and the increase in jobs is accelerating. There is considerable potential for all UDCs to stimulate employment. This is, of course, only one of the benefits that they will bring to their areas.

Closed Shop

23. Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to bring forward Government proposals to ban pre-entry closed shops.

Mr. Fowler : We announced in our White Paper "Employment for the 1990s" that we would examine the operation of the pre-entry closed shop over the coming months and review the steps employers take to use the freedom the law has given them to get rid of closed shop arrangements. This examination and review is currently taking place.

Channel Tunnel

24. Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently working in jobs related to the Channel tunnel ; what effect this will have on the economy of northern England ; and if he will make a statement.


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Mr. Lee : It is not possible to estimate the total number of people currently working in jobs relating to the Channel tunnel, but I am aware that around 5,000 people are currently employed at the tunnel site in Kent. In addition, contracts worth £500 million have been awarded to date by the tunnel contractors : 90 per cent. of this work has gone to firms in the United Kingdom, 20 per cent. to firms in northern England. The Channel tunnel should have a beneficial effect on the economy of the whole of the United Kingdom.

Small Businesses

26. Mr. Bright : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British Venture Capital Association to discuss the financing of small businesses ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss) on 17 January, at column 177 .

57. Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the development of small businesses ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Franks) on 17 January, at column 177 .

Labour Mobility

28. Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy on encouraging the movement of employees in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector from full-time to part-time working ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee : We are in favour of encouraging flexibility in the labour market such as that provided by working part-time. In general, employers and employees should be free to work out the arrangements which best suit their individual circumstances. My Department's jobshare scheme aims to help employers in the public and private sector to adopt more flexible working patterns and open up job opportunities directly or indirectly for the unemployed.

Training

29. Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures on training in 1979 and the estimate for 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : Some 876,000 people entered training in 1987-88 under schemes funded by the Employment Department Training Agency (formerly the Manpower Services Commission) compared with 91,000 in 1979-80. This nearly tenfold increase underlines the importance attached by the Government to developing a skilled and flexible work force capable of meeting the challenges of the 1990s and beyond. The principal responsibility for training must lie with employers themselves, but the Government play an important role through the major training programmes they support, in particular the youth training scheme and employment training.


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The White Paper "Employment for the 1990s", which I issued last December, sets out radical proposals for building on the achievements of the last few years. These include the creation of local employer-led training and enterprise councils over the next three to four years and the establishment of a new programme, "Business Growth Training" to help employers, particularly small employers, improve the effectiveness of their training activity.

34. Mrs. Gillian Shephard : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the employment training scheme.

Mr. Nicholls : Employment training continues to make excellent progress and at 27 January 1989 there were 131,000 people on the programme. There is considerable interest in employment training among longer-term unemployed people who clearly recognise the value of worthwhile training to help them get a job.

62. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently on Training Commission training schemes ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls : Information is not available for all Training Agency schemes in the form requested. However, in December 1988, 527,900 people were in training on employment training and YTS. This huge investment reflects the central importance which the Government attach to creating a skilled and flexible work force which will contribute to Britain's economic prosperity in the 1990s and beyond. YTS has been a great success and the new employment training, the most ambitious training programme for unemployed adults anywhere, has made an excellent start.

66. Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on YTS and employment training, at the latest available date, for the north.

Mr. Nicholls : At 31 December 1988 there were 32,300 youngsters on YTS, and at 27 January 1989 there were 14,400 adults on employment training in the Training Agency's northern region.

68. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people on YTS and employment training, at the latest available date, for the north-west.

Mr. Cope : At 31 December 1988 there were 65,700 youngsters on YTS, and at 27 January 1989 there were 18,500 adults on employment training in the Training Agency's north-west region.

79. Mr. Norris : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently engaged in the employment training scheme ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls : The number of people on employment training at 27 January was 130,900. This is a tremendous achievement after less than five months of the programme's operation and is a reflection of the considerable interest shown by unemployed people in getting high quality training to help them get back into a job.


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82. Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide figures for spending on training in 1979 and 1988 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : Records are kept on the basis of the standard financial year for accounting for Government expenditure. This year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

The figures represent expenditure by the Department of Employment Training Agency (ex MSC, ex Training Commission) on training programmes in the relevant financial years.


           |£ millions           

---------------------------------

1978-79    |374                  

1979-80    |451                  

1987-88    |1,613                

These figures include all related administrative costs, net of receipts.

Employer School Compacts

30. Mr. Tracey : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many areas have applied for development funding for employer school compacts to date ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : Forty six areas applied for funding to establish a compact. Partnerships of employers and education authorities in 30 of those areas were granted development funding and are currently preparing applications for four years operational funding. I have been very pleased by the positive responses from both employers and the education service and I look forward to the establishment of the first compacts later in the spring.

National Training Task Force

33. Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in establishing the national training task force ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Cope : The membership of the national training task force was announced on 4 January 1989 and it held its first meeting on 31 January. The task force will be assisting in the establishment of a national network of training and enterprise councils and will have a leading role in promoting to employers the importance of investing in the skills of their workers.

Disabled People

38. Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had regarding the level of disabled unemployment recorded in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys survey.

Mr. Lee : The recently published information in the report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, on the financial circumstances of disabled adults living in private households does not provide sufficiently precise information about the unemployment of economically active people who have handicaps which are relevant to employment. My Department has recently commissioned a survey to provide such information. I expect the results to be available in the second half of this year.


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