§ 40. Mr. T. Fraserasked the Minister of Labour what proportion of Great Britain's total of men under 20 years of age who had been wholly unemployed for six months or more were registered in Scotland, and the Midlands, respectively, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. P. ThomasIn Scotland 37 per cent. and in the Midlands 1.6 per cent. at 7th December, 1959.
§ Mr. FraserIs the Minister aware that these two regions have, broadly speaking, the same population, and do not the figures which he has announced show the great need for much more vigorous action on the part of the Government to stimulate employment north of the Border?
§ Mr. ThomasI agree that these figures show that the Midland area has a high level of employment and that Scotland has great difficulties regarding employment at the moment. For these reasons, as well as others, 61 per cent. of the insured population of Scotland is now in areas which have been listed under the Local Employment Act.
§ Mr. RankinIs the hon. Gentleman aware that he could do much to alleviate the situation as it applies to the group between the ages of 15 and 18 years, which is comprehended in the figures given, and also that he could encourage his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to go ahead with day-release schemes and apprenticeship schemes to cater for these lads not in employment at present? Is he aware that by the greater use and expansion of the youth centres it would be possible to engage more fully the activities of those boys and youths still unemployed?
§ Mr. ThomasI agree with the hon. Gentleman. Our Department is doing everything it can in these matters.
§ 41. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Labour the ratio of boys under 18 years of age registered as wholly unemployed to the number of unfilled notified vacancies for boys in Scotland, and the Midlands, respectively, at the latest available date.
§ Mr. P. ThomasOn 14th March, for every 100 boys registered as wholly unemployed, there were 36 unfilled notified vacancies in Scotland and 1,888 in the Midlands.
§ Mr. LawsonDoes not this show the really shocking contrast between two parts of the United Kingdom? Will the Parliamentary Secretary take it from hon. Members on this side of the House that the measures which have so far been adopted by the Government are far from showing any likelihood of meeting this problem? Will he urge on his right hon. Friend, and upon the President of the Board of Trade, that much more stringent measures than those so far taken are needed to meet the shocking conditions which exist in Scotland?
§ Mr. ThomasMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade continues, as he said he would, to refuse industrial development certificates in these congested areas, except in the most exceptional cases. There has been a great improvement in the figures regarding unemployment among boys under 18 in Scotland.
§ 42. Mr. Smallasked the Minister of Labour the ratio of boys under 18 years of age registered as wholly unemployed to the number of unfilled notified vacancies in the cities of Glasgow and Birmingham, respectively, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. P. ThomasOn 14th March, for every 100 boys registered as wholly unemployed, there were 37 unfilled notified vacancies in the City of Glasgow and 2,849 in the City of Birmingham.
§ Mr. SmallIs the Minister aware that the population of these two cities is, roughly speaking, the same in size? Is he aware of the social problem which lies behind this difficulty, that a youth in Birmingham has a reasonable opportunity of living a full life, but that a 1261 youth in Glasgow faces the humiliating prospect of being unable to get a job after having received a reasonably good education?
§ Mr. ThomasI appreciate the social problem and I can assure the hon. Gentleman of my pleasure that Glasgow has been made a development district under the Local Employment Act.