HC Deb 01 March 1961 vol 635 cc1562-5
2. Mr. Owen

asked the Minister of Labour how many school leavers, boys and girls, have registered for employment and failed to find it, at the latest convenient date; and what plans he has for finding employment for them.

Mr. Hare

On 13th February, 1,884 boys and 1,224 girls. The Youth Employment Service is helping them to find employment as soon as possible.

Mr. Owen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that increasing numbers of school leavers are still waiting for employment and that we are now approaching the major impact of the bulge? What steps is he taking to institute more effective action to ensure that employment is secured for these young people? Is he not aware that this great potential reservoir of labour is vital to our economy?

Mr. Hare

I am aware of that, but I think that the hon. Gentleman has this wrong. There is nothing to be complacent about in these figures, but the position is a good deal better than it was last year. We are making progress. Today, there are five vacancies for each boy unemployed, compared with last year's figure of three vacancies for every unemployed boy. Therefore, although I agree about the importance of seeing that these young people are placed in jobs, I am glad to be able to tell the hon. Gentlemen that things are considerably better than they were a year ago.

7. Mr. Willis

asked the Minister of Labour what special steps he proposes to take to find employment for boys leaving school in Edinburgh during the next few years.

19. Mr. Oswald

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated increase for 1962 over 1960 in the number of youths under 18 years of age who will be leaving school in the city of Edinburgh in search of jobs; and what special steps are being taken to ensure that there will be an appropriate increase in the number of jobs available.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Peter Thomas)

In Edinburgh, there are expected to be about 950 more boys leaving school and seeking employment in 1962 than in 1960. Employment prospects for boys in Edinburgh are at present fairly good, and I hope that they will remain so.

Mr. Willis

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his youth employment officer in Edinburgh does not seem to agree with him, because that officer has said that there will be a great deal of unemployment among boys next year and that the high level of unemployment will continue for at least four years? What does the hon. Gentleman intend to do about that?

Mr. Thomas

I do not think that the figures available to me warrant undue pessimism about the situation in Edinburgh. The employment situation for boys in Edinburgh is much better than it is in Scotland generally.

Mr. Willis

That is not much.

Mr. Thomas

It approximates to the average situation in Great Britain as a whole. There are three times the number of vacancies as there are boys unemployed in Edinburgh and there is no unemployment problem for girls.

10. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated increase for 1962 over 1960 in the number of youths in Lanarkshire leaving school in search of employment and what special steps are being taken to ensure that such employment will be available.

Mr. P. Thomas

Approximately 1,100. The employment situation for boys in Lanarkshire has improved over the past year, and finding work for these additional school leavers should not present serious difficulties. The Northern part of the county is a development district under the Local Employment Act

Mr. Lawson

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that that represents about one-third increase in 1962 compared with 1960? Is he aware that unless special measures, of which there is no sign at present, are taken, a substantial number of that increase—and this applies to youths generally—must be without employment in their own area?

Mr. Thomas

I agree that it is a big increase, but I do not agree that there are no prospects at the moment. About 4,000 jobs are in prospect in Lanarkshire.

Mr. Steele

We are always being told about jobs in prospect, but we want jobs on the spot. The Minister has already said that there are five vacancies for every boy unemployed in England and we have been told that there are three jobs for every unemployed boy in Edinburgh. What is the position for Scotland? How many vacancies per unemployed boy do we have? Is not the ratio the other way round?

Mr. Thomas

Without notice, I cannot give the exact answer. I agree that there are not as many vacancies as there are boys unemployed in the Lanarkshire area, but the improvement over the last year has been considerable. In February, 1960, 571 boys in the Lanarkshire area were unemployed while the number today is 225, so there has been a considerable improvement and the prospects are better than they were.

15. Mr. Ross

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated increase for 1962 over 1960 in the number of youths under 18 years of age who will be leaving school in Ayrshire in search of employment; and what special steps are being taken to ensure that there will be an appropriate increase in the number of jobs for youths available.

Mr. P. Thomas

Approximately 700. Employment prospects for boys have improved over the past year, and the absorption of the extra school leavers into employment should not present serious difficulties. Various parts of the county are development districts under the Local Employment Act.

Mr. Ross

Is the Minister aware that only a small part of the county is within the development area? Will he attend to the needs of those youths who are unemployed in areas outwith those in which help can be obtained?

Mr. Thomas

Certainly. My Department intends to pay every attention to youth in every part of Britain in an attempt to see that they are properly and fully employed. The increase can be put in its proper perspective when it is understood that, although it may appear proportionately to be rather larger, it represents about 1 per cent., and in many cases much less than 1 per cent., of the total labour force. There should be no difficulty in absorbing that percentage into employment.