§ 42. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Labour how many of those who left school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne at the 1186 end of the last two school terms remain unemployed at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodOut of 922 Christmas school leavers and 693 Easter school leavers, one boy is unemployed.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWhile welcoming this encouraging trend, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that there are reports of numbers of school leavers coming down from the North and from Scotland who are not finding it at all easy to obtain places?
§ Mr. MacleodThese figures are indeed extremely encouraging, and so are the general figures of school leavers all over the country. Naturally it is true that some areas—not, I am happy to say, Newcastle—have special difficulties and that is why we intend to pursue the matter. It is important to pursue it in good times as well as bad, for it is not a short-term problem. It is going to be with us for some years ahead.