To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) numerical and (b) percentage change in youth unemployment in Ashford constituency was in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. (304922)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Jil Matheson, dated December 2009:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the (a) numerical and (b) percentage change in youth unemployment in Ashford Constituency was in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available (304922).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of unemployment for the requested age range and area are not available.

As an alternative, in Table 1 we have provided the numerical change and the percentage change in the number of persons aged 18 to 24 claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in the Ashford constituency, for the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:

http://www.nomisweb.co.uk