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Treasury;Office for National Statistics

Answer

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown for each of the last two Parliaments of the change in the number of 18 to 24-year- olds unemployed for over six months. [20462] Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply. Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Bercow, dated 11 December 2001: As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for a breakdown for each of the last two parliaments of the change in the number of 18 to 24 year olds unemployed for over six months (20462). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for unemployment from surveys following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definition. ONS also compiles statistics 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. The table overleaf provides a breakdown of the available figures. United Kingdom: changes over the last two parliaments for 18-24 year olds (a) ILO unemployed for 6 months or more; (b) claiming unemployment benefit for 6 months or more _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number ILO unemployment{ 1} 6 months or more duration LFS reference period{ 2} March to May 1992 364,000 April to June 1997 189,000 May to July 2001 104,000 Change March to May 1992 to April to June 1997 -175,000 Percentage -48.1 Change April to June 1997 to May to July 2001 -85,000 Percentage -45.0 Claimant count{ 3,4} claiming for 6 months or more Claimant count reference month{ 5} April 1992 358,114 May 1997 169,498 June 2001 40,089 Change April 1992 to May 1997 -188,616 Percentage 52.7 Change May 1997 to June 2001 -129,409 Percentage -76.3 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Seasonally adjusted {2} As asked for in the question, the periods shown are centred around the General Election dates. It would be more useful to make comparisons are made between consecutive 3 month periods. {3} Not seasonally adjusted {4} Monthly claimant count data by age and duration are on the basis of all claims for April 1992 and computerised claims only for later years. {5} For data that is not seasonally adjusted comparisons should normally be made between data for the same month each year. For this reason, comparisons between different months should be used with caution.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

376 c763-4W; 20462

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Young people Unemployment

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk