§ Q1. Mr. Dempseyasked the Prime Minister what were the terms of his reply to the resolution forwarded by 331 Airdrie Churches Council, complaining about the lack of employment opportunities for school leavers.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)A reply has been sent on my behalf drawing attention to the fall which has occurred in unemployment amongst young people in this area and to the measures which the Government are taking to increase employment opportunities.
§ Mr. DempseyIs the Prime Minister aware that not so very long ago there were 35 school leavers for every vacancy, whereas in the Midlands there were five vacancies for every school leaver? Is it not shameful to perpetuate this maldistribution of employment prospects? Can the right hon. Gentleman state here and now what plans he has in mind for ensuring that the children of today and tomorrow have adequate employment prospects on leaving school in Coatbridge and Airdrie and North Lanarkshire in general?
§ The Prime MinisterIn this area very large plans are going forward, with the building of advance factories and other developments, but between February and June in the whole area, including Coatbridge and Baillieston, there was a fall from 373 to 244, although there were 550 Easter school leavers. We are therefore making progress.