HC Deb 01 August 1972 vol 842 cc76-7W
Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers in Scotland joined Her Majesty's forces in 1971 with the assistance of the youth employment service; and what are the comparable figures for the previous five years.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Where appropriate, careers officers bring opportunities in Her Majesty's Forces to the attention of individual school leavers and those who show an interest in joining one of the services are referred to the appropriate Her Majesty's forces schools liaison officer for more detailed information and advice. No statistics are kept of the number so referred, however, or of the number who subsequently decide to enlist.

Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table indicating the number of school leavers placed in employment in 1971 by youth employment officers in Scotland in the following trades: engineering, building and retail distribution; and what are the comparable figures for the previous five years.

Mr. Dudley Smith

I regret that statistics of placings made by the youth employment service are not analysed by

NEW ENTRANTS TO EMPLOYMENT IN THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY, BUILDING INDUSTRY, AND RETAIL DISTRIBUTION, IN SCOTLAND IN EACH OF THE YEARS 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 AND 1971
1966 1967 1968
Industry
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
*Engineering 4,535 1,347 5,882 4,149 1,101 5,250 4,097 1,266 5,363
Building 3,593 498 4,091 3,588 470 4,058 3,951 450 4,401
† Retail Distribution 5,016 7,919 12,935 4,705 7,365 12,070 4,659 7,193 11,852
1969 1970 1971
Industry
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
*Engineering 4,167 1,553 5,720 3,878 1,104 4,982 3,325 977 4,302
Building 3,729 456 4,185 3,513 465 3,978 3,489 429 3,918
† Retail Distribution 4,546 6,936 11,482 4,350 6,515 10,865 4,445 6,455 10,900
* The Engineering group has been defined as Mechanical Engineering, Instrument Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, Vehicle Manufacture, and Other Metal Goods Manufacturing.
† Retail Distribution has been defined as including Grocery and Provisions, Confectionery, Tobacco and Newspapers, Clothing and Footwear, General Household goods, and other non-food goods (Jewellery, Chemists wares, etc.).

Mr. Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding the problems of unemployment among the youth in Scotland; and what reply he has sent.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Representations on various aspects of youth unemployment in Scotland have been received during the past year. Each has been dealt with individually, according to the points raised.