42. Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the policy 2258 recommended in the West Indies for dealing with unemployment among adolescents.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsAs the answer is rather long I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
West Indian Governments recognise that unemployment among adolescents is a special problem. In the three Colonies for which recent information is available in the Colonial Office, the position is as follows. In British Guiana, a juvenile employment exchange service has recently been inaugurated. Apprenticeship schemes in building and engineering trades are also being started under the Industrial Training Ordinance.
In Trinidad, arrangements for vocational guidance and the placing of those leaving school are based on the United Kingdom system, but are still in the experimental stage. There are plans for the early extension of the present limited facilities for pre-vocational and technical training. The establishment of farming institutes and farming schools for training adolescents in agriculture and husbandry is also being actively considered.
In Jamaica, the question of unemployment among adolescents is being studied; in view of the general unemployment situation and of the financial position of the Government, it has not yet been possible to formulate a definite policy. Legislation regarding apprenticeship is, however being drafted in the light of a report prepared by a local committee and a survey to determine the absorptive capacity of various industries for skilled workers who have completed apprenticeship training has already been carried out.