HC Deb 09 March 1964 vol 691 cc20-1
27. Mr. Owen

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons in the Northern Region had been enrolled in training schemes under his Department at the end of January, 1964.

Mr. Godber

Eighty-two young persons were attending first year apprenticeship training courses in the Northern Region at the end of January, 1964.

Mr. Owen

Surely the right hon. Gentleman is aware that this is totally inadequate in relation to the problem of school-leavers and youth unemployment in the area. Is he aware that, according to my information, in South-East Northumberland at the moment some 42 per cent. of the school-leavers likely to leave this year will do so at Easter and that there are no jobs available for them? Is he further aware that there are no training facilities available either? Will he be good enough to examine carefully and urgently the facilities now available in Ashington and Morpeth for the establishment of a training centre for these young people?

Mr. Godber

The Ministry provides the first-year apprenticeship training courses as an example to employers of the type of first-year apprenticeship training, that should be carried out. They are not intended with the idea of absorbing all those unemployed. That is not the purpose. But, apart from what the Ministry is doing, about 1,000 boys last year began first-year apprenticeship courses and pre-apprenticeship courses at technical colleges in the region. That is the other side of the coin. It is significant that the number of unemployed young persons in the area is substantially down while the number of vacancies has risen substantially. I am sure that the trend is improving.

Mr. Owen

Surely the right hon. Gentleman recognises that even the number of existing training centres is inadequate. When he speaks of the possibility of utilising available services at technical colleges, will he look at the provisions of Ashington Technical College to see whether it could not be used as a training centre for the young people of the area?

Mr. Godber

I have discussed with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education whether there could be an expansion of what is being provided in technical colleges for this purpose, and I will be glad to look at the case mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.