18. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Labour, in view of anxiety regarding juvenile employment this year in southwest Durham, if he will institute, through his divisional offices, an inquiry regarding new vacancies for apprentice training to assist in meeting the employment situation of school leavers this year.
§ Mr. P. ThomasNo, Sir. I do not think a special inquiry of the kind suggested is necessary. The Youth Employment Service is keeping the position under constant review.
Mr. SlaterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the east Durham area has been seriously affected over the last few years in the matter of employment and the apprenticeship of young people leaving school? Is he further aware—as he has said that his juvenile officers are looking into this matter—that the time has arrived, in view of the seriousness of the position, for his Department, with the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Education, to enter into conversations about the employment of young people who will be leaving school at the end of this term?
§ Mr. ThomasI appreciate the employment difficulties in south-west Durham, but the present indications are that there has been an improvement. In addition, the percentage of boys entering apprenticeships is higher there than in the country as a whole. In 1960, in the Northern Region it was 40.1 per cent. compared with 36 per cent. for the whole country.
19. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers have been placed in apprenticeship schemes during the last 12 months in south-west Durham; how these figures compare with those for the rest of the county; and what proposals he has to meet the demand for juvenile employment at the close of the summer term this year.
§ Mr. P. ThomasFigures for the last twelve months are not available, but reports indicate that the percentage of boys obtaining apprenticeships in southwest Durham is higher than in the 15 country as a whole. The Youth Employment Service will do all it can to help summer school leavers find employment.
Mr. SlaterIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, unless employment can be found for these young people on leaving school, it will have serious effects upon the whole area? It is all very well for him to say that the percentage of boys obtaining apprenticeships in this area is much higher than in any other part of the country. I concede that that is correct in the eastern part of the country, but it is not correct in the south Durham area. Is he aware that the parents are very concerned? All they ask is that the same privileges and opportunities should be granted to their children as are given to children in other parts of the country?
§ Mr. ThomasThe employment prospects for girls in the area are satisfactory. While I agree that the outlook for boys is less favourable than that for girls, it has greatly improved over the last year, and the rapid absorption of the Easter school leavers is very encouraging. On 12th June, out of 571 Easter school leavers four boys were left. The area is a development district under the Local Employment Act, and I am glad to say that there are now 1,600 jobs in prospect.
§ Mr. BoydenIs not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these figures are very patchy, because that 40 per cent. includes a number of boys and girls who are travelling enormous distances from places like Middleton-in-Teesdale and Barnard Castle? The position is certainly not as rosy as he makes out.
§ Mr. ThomasI am giving the general figure. I agree that in certain areas there could be considerable improvement.