§ 21. Mr. Spriggsasked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage of unemployed women over the age of 18 years, and young people below the age of 18 years, respectively, who are now signing the register for work at the St. Helens employment exchange; and if he will consider the provision of a Ministry of Labour training centre in the St. Helens district for those young people prepared to make use of such a facility.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe information in answer to the first part of the Question is not available. My right hon. Friend does not consider the provision of a Government training centre in St. Helens would be justified, and in any case Government training centres do not normally provide training for young persons except those sponsored under the first-year apprentice training scheme.
§ Mr. SpriggsDoes not the hon. Gentleman recall that young people who have left school in the last few years and have never had a job since lobbied hon. Members only a short while ago appealing for jobs? Will he not reconsider his reply and see what can be done to steer these young people into jobs which are worth having and not into blind-alley jobs into which they will be compelled to go nothing is done for them?
§ Mr. WhitelawDuring 1963, the percentage of boys from St. Helens entering first employment and obtaining apprenticeships was 32.6 per cent. This was not as good as was hoped, but nevertheless it is worth stating the figure. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Liverpool Government Training Centre is within normal daily travelling distance of the St. Helens area