§ 41. Mr. Prenticeasked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a special Ministerial committee to consider the economic and social problems relating to the increase in the number of school leavers in 1961, 1962, and 1963, compared with the preceding years.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. PrenticeIs the Prime Minister aware that the number of school leavers this year will be 20 per cent. higher than last year, and that next year there will be a still larger increase? Does he not think that this will lead to a lot of very great problems in youth employment, apprenticeships, university places, youth services and all the rest? Does not this demand special action, even from a Government as complacent as this one?
§ The Prime MinisterThe action is being taken. The British Employers' Confederation, the Trades Union Congress and the nationalised industries have set up the Industrial Training Council, in which the Ministry of Labour and the education authorities are associated, and some other steps are being taken.
Mr. LeeIs the Prime Minister aware that the results so far from the Industrial Training Council have been extremely disappointing? In fact, we are now going into the peak of the bulge, and for the next two or three years that will be maintained, and yet the number of young school leavers taking up apprenticeships is very low, so that the country is in grave danger of not having sufficient skilled personnel.
§ The Prime MinisterThe increase in the take-in of apprentices does depend, in my view, upon co-oiperation between employers and trade unions.
§ Mr. HannanMay I ask the Prime Minister to reconsider this matter? Is he not aware that the organisations of which he speaks produced the Carr Report, which is generally accepted as having little effect upon the future? Is he not further aware that great social problems are involved, and that in Scotland, for example, there are four or five young people chasing after one job, whereas in the Midlands of England there are four or five jobs available for each young person? This matter has 1240 been summed up in the words of Professor Gaibraith, who said that our young people are either learning maths and science or Russian.
§ The Prime MinisterVery important steps are being taken. I do not think that the plan proposed in the Question is the right approach. We must follow along all the different lines which are now at work.