§ 18. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that it is becoming increasingly difficult for school 354 leavers in Jarrow and Hebburn to obtain employment as craft apprentices; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. HeathYes, Sir. The steady expansion of our economy offers the best prospects of industry being able to make more apprenticeships available.
§ Mr. FernyhoughIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that unemployment is growing in Jarrow at a time when the steady expansion of the economy to which he refers is taking place? Since it is impossible for private enterprise to offer facilities to the boys and girls leaving school who have attained a good standard of education, does he not think that Her Majesty's Government should consider setting up State factories, thus providing them with the opportunity to which they are certainly entitled?
§ Mr. HeathI think that the hon. Gentleman knows that the problems of providing apprenticeships in this area are largely connected with the difficult period through which the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry is passing. Also, the building industry in the area is working at a lower level at the moment and is not taking the customary number of apprentices. Other industries have not been able to make up the deficit. As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is a development district and one still hopes to encourage industry to go there.
§ Mr. FernyhoughDoes that mean that the right hon. Gentleman thinks that the present phase through which shipbuilding is passing is only temporary and that there will be a substantial improvement which will hold out hope for the boys and girls, the boys in particular, obtaining jobs in that industry?
§ Mr. HeathI think that the hon. Gentleman knows my views. We hope that shipbuilding and ship repairing will emerge from their present recession.
§ 19. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Minister of Labour how many boys and girls left school at Christmas in Jarrow and Hebburn; and how many of them are still without employment.
§ Mr. HeathThere were 171 boys and 168 girls who left school at Christmas in Jarrow and Hebburn. Of these, 30 boys and 3 girls are still without employment.
§ Mr. FernyhoughWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a tragic situation, because these boys and girls are the descendants of men and women who had a similar experience in the inter-war years? Does he realise the disastrous psychological effect this has on these boys and girls, and will he bestir himself in order that these young people can take their place in our society?
§ Mr. HeathOf 168 girls who left school at Christmas, only three are still without employment—[An HON. MEMBER: "Three too many."]—yes, three too many; but it is still a satisfactory improvement in the employment situation for girls. The problem is that there are 30 boys out of the 171 who have not yet been able to find employment, and that position is tied up, as I said in my previous Answer, with the present difficulties of the industries in that area.
§ Dame Irene WardArising out of what my right hon. Friend said about the difficulties of the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries, will he tell the House why his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade should have discriminated against the ship-repairing industry in the Local Employment Bill?
§ Mr. HeathWe spent yesterday debating this matter, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that Question to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.