Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for the latest year for which figures relating to 18 to 21 year-olds in England, (1) how many claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (a) in the first six months of the year, and (b) in total; (2) how many claimed Employment and Support Allowance, and of those, what proportion became part of the work-related activity group; and (3) how many entered the Work Programme.

The information requested regarding part (1), how many claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (a) in the first six months of the year, and (b) in total, is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

There were 38,000 (rounded to the nearest thousand) claims made to ESA by 18-21 year-olds in England during the business year 2013-14, of whom 2,000 (6%) were assigned to the work-related activity group.

Between April 2014 and March 2015 there were 24,660 18 to 21 year-olds, in England, referred to the Work Programme. Please note this is rounded to the nearest ten and referrals are 'net' referrals which do not include rejections, cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions.