§ 42. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Labour whether the statement of Mr. Colville, Youth Employment Officer, Cardiff, concerning the provision of employment for secondary modern school leavers, was made with his authority; and whether he will make a statement of Government policy on this matter.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service (Mr. Robert Carr)I assume that the hon. Member refers to the annual report of the Cardiff Youth Employment Committee. The views expressed in this Report are naturally those of the Committee itself. The need for each industry to examine its current apprenticeship arrangements, and generally to ensure that 1209 facilities for training are adequate to enable advantage to be taken of the increasing number of school leavers, is the subject of a report by a sub-committee of the National Joint Advisory Council which has been published today under the title "Training for Skill". I commend this report to the urgent attention of all concerned, and I welcome the steps taken by the Cardiff Youth Employment Committee to give local publicity to this important subject.
§ Mr. OwenThe Minister has indicated the publication of a report which, in essence, projects the problem. May I hope that he will be prepared to give careful study to the report and give some indication of Government policy on this matter at an early date?
§ Mr. CarrIt is the strong view of both sides of industry that the training of workers in industry is a responsibility of industry. That is reaffirmed by the report.
§ 43. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Labour what steps are being taken, in consultation with the trade union movement, to meet the problem of school leavers and employment during the years 1958 to 1962.
§ Mr. CarrThe Trades Union Congress was represented on the sub-committee of the National Joint Advisory Council to which I referred in my reply to the previous Question. The sub-committee's report makes recommendations for increasing the number of training places available over the next few years.
§ Mr. OwenWhile thanking the Minister for that recognition of the service that the trade union movement can render in this respect, may I ask whether he is aware that between now and the 1960's the number of school leavers will increase by about 50 per cent.? Hence the urgent need for the closest consultation with the trade union movement so that we may be able to face up to that problem.
§ Mr. CarrI welcome that question, as I welcome any publicity which can be given to this important matter. I am glad to say that the report of the committee of which I was chairman was a unanimous one, having the full backing of the trade union members of the committee.