School Leavers

HC Deb 07 November 1960 vol 629 cc625-7

6. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Minister of Labour how many St. Helen's children, due to leave school in the summer of 1960, found employment; how many took advantage of his Department's training scheme in the area; and how many children were unable to find employment in the St. Helen's Employment Exchange area.

Mr. P. Thomas

In the county borough of St. Helen's, 855 boys and girls left school this summer. On 10th October, seven boys and two girls were seeking employment. None is receiving apprenticeship training in a Government training centre. Nineteen boys and forty-seven girls are known to have found work outside the borough.

Mr. Spriggs

Will the Parliamentary Secretary say what financial assistance his Ministry is prepared to give children attending the Government training centre from as far afield as St. Helen's in Lancashire?

Mr. Thomas

Government training centres do not offer facilities to boys unless they are apprenticed to some firm. Those who are apprenticed to firms can, if the firm wishes, have first-year training given in a G.T.C. free of charge.

7. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Minister of Labour how many children who left school this summer were placed in employment; what was the total number of children who returned to school until jobs could be found; and how many school leavers are receiving his Department's training to fit them for jobs.

Mr. P. Thomas

Out of 291,000 school leavers this summer, 3,953, or 1.4 per cent., were still seeking employment on 10th October. Young persons return to school for various reasons and it is not possible to say how many went back while waiting for jobs. One hundred-and-six boys, already engaged as apprentices by employers, are being trained under the first year apprenticeship training scheme and more will be taken in shortly.

Mr. Spriggs

Is the Minister prepared to extend this training scheme, in view of the large numbers of unskilled labourers on the labour market who cannot find work and in view of the shortage of skilled labour? Will the Minister consider more extensive training schemes to enable more young people to learn skilled trades?

Mr. Thomas

These Government training schemes have only just started. It is hoped that many more will take advantage of this scheme. If there is a sufficient demand, my right hon. Friend will certainly consider an extension of the scheme.

Mr. Prentice

In replying to the second Question try my hon. Friend, the hon. Gentleman referred to a figure of 106 boys throughout the country who, I understand, are now having first year apprentice training in G.T.Cs. Can he say whether it is the intention of the Government that these shall be extended next year to a much larger number?

Mr. Thomas

Certainly it is expected that this will expand considerably in the next few months. Perhaps I should make it quite clear that the purpose of a Government training scheme is not to offer facilities of training for unemployed boys. The boys concerned are already apprenticed to firms. The facilities offered are first-year training as an example to industry of how good training can be done during the first year.