Youth Employment Officers

HC Deb 11 May 1964 vol 695 cc22-3

24. Miss Quennell

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average case-load of each youth employment officer.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. William Whitelaw)

It is estimated that, in the present year, the average case-load will be about 550 to 600 young persons reaching the age of 15.

Miss Quennell

I thank my hon. Friend for that Answer, but is he satisfied that, with the growing complexity of training schemes and apprenticeships and the need for correct assessment, there is not an impossible load for the youth employment officer to carry successfully?

Mr. Whitelaw

The answer to my hon. Friend in most cases is "Yes". I have given the average load. In some cases, the actual load is well below the average. [HON. MEMBERS: "And above in others."] In many fewer it is above. If circumstances such as my hon. Friend describes arise, my right hon. Friend would be only too anxious to see extra youth employment officers appointed. Since April, 1962, over 80 new posts have been created.