HC Deb 13 July 1927 vol 208 cc2143-5
16. Mr. BUCHANAN

asked the Minister of Labour the number of young persons attending centres under the Minister of Labour in Glasgow for educational purposes; the number for the same period last year; and the numbers of boys and girls?

Mr. BETTERTON

The average daily attendance at Juvenile Unemployment Centres in Glasgow during the week which ended on 1st July was 1,116 (boys 655 and girls 461), as compared with an attendance of 1,846 (boys 1,124 and girls 722) during the week which ended on 2nd July, 1926.

Mr. STEPHEN

What is the reason for the big decrease in the number?

Mr. BETTERTON

It is to some extent attributable to the depression in trade which followed the general strike of last year.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is it not a fact that curtailments have taken place in the facilities offered to the young people owing to financial reasons, and while this is due partly to the depression in trade, is it not also partly due to the curtailment in spending power?

Mr. BETTERTON

I am not quite sure whether the curtailment to which my hon. Friend refers applies to Glasgow, but, as he knows, it depends on the amount of unemployment. Whether and to what extent that applies in Glasgow, I cannot say without notice.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is it not a fact that they are much more stringent in applying the regulations, and can he not see that in places like Glasgow where trade depression is still very prevalent these young people get opportunities for training.

Mr. BETTERTON

Yes, Sir. It is the policy of my right hon. Friend that these centres should continue subject to the financial necessities of the situation, and so far as it is possible these facilities are provided as heretofore.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Will the Minister use his influence in order to give greater encouragement instead of having these young men and women wandering about the streets with nothing to do? Here is a place where they can go and get instruction instead of living a life with nothing in front of them but idleness. We want them to go to school and get the benefit of these institutions.

17. Mr. C. EDWARDS

asked the Minister of Labour the number of boys between the ages of 14 and 18 who are unemployed; and the total number of both sexes unemployed between those ages?

Mr. BETTERTON

At 27th June, 1927, there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux in Great Britain 26,234 boys and 25,111 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 years. The number of unemployed boys and girls who were not on the registers is not known.

Mr. MARDY JONES

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether his Department is doing anything to provide juvenile centres for these boys and girls, and does he not realise that to keep them occupied and off the streets and out of mischief the provision of such centres is highly necessary? Does he not realise that it is very demoralising that the present generation in such large numbers should be kept in this position while the Government make no attempt to meet the difficulty?

Mr. BETTERTON

Yes, my right hon. Friend is fully alive to the value of these centres, and so far as it is possible he is anxious that these centres should continue.

Mr. COVE

May I ask if the Government have come to any definite decision upon the Reports of the two important committees which have been issued in relation to this problem?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is hardly a question for the Minister.

Mr. COVE

Those Reports deal specifically with this question, and they have made definite recommendations in regard to juvenile unemployment.

Mr. SPEAKER

That is a matter of policy which cannot be answered by a junior Minister without notice.