§ 21. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Labour the number of youths under 18 years of age in Great Britain who are at present drawing unemployment benefit, and the number under 18 years of age that have never had any employment of any kind through not having been taught any specific trade; and will he instruct the Employment Exchanges throughout the country to make a special effort to place these youths in some trade or employment??
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDOn 9th March, the number of boys between the ages of 16 and 18 who had claims to benefit current at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain was 17,981. There are no statistics available to show the number who have never had employment of any kind through not having been taught a specific trade. Every possible effort is already made by the Exchanges to place such boys and other boys on their registers in suitable employment.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the jute industry 95 per cent. of the boys are discharged when they reach the age of 18 years; and what steps is he taking through the local Employment Exchanges to deal with that fact?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI will certainly look into that case if the hon Member will speak to me about it
§ 33. Mr. CHARLETONasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the estimated number of males and females, respectively, between the ages of 18 and 25 years of age who are unemployed; and whether, if the information is not now available upon which to base an estimate, he will have such information collected?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIn the unemployment statistics which are regularly compiled the ages of claimants are not distinguished, but from a sample analysis based on about 11,000 claimants to unemployment benefit made at the end of November, 1924, it would appear that at that date there were about 181,600 male claimants and 88,800 female claimants, between the ages of 18 and 25 years.