HC Deb 14 June 1965 vol 714 cc8-12
9. Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

asked the Minister of Labour what instructions he has issued to youth employment officers about the new problems of immigrant school leavers, especially those seeking clerical posts.

Mr. Marsh

The Central Youth Employment Executive has issued a memorandum to all youth employment officers which draws their attention to the recommendations in the Third Report of the Commonwealth Immigrants Advisory Council affecting the work of the Youth Employment Service and seeks their help in carrying them out. Youth employment officers are asked, amongst other things, to use every opportunity of impressing on employers that immigrant young people of above average ability may be suitable for a wide variety of jobs in industry and commerce, including many types of clerical work.

Mr. Lloyd

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that, since this is the kind of problem which, even if all immigration were stopped forthwith, would increase in scale inevitably in the next few years, it is very important that we should take extra steps to get a really efficient way of giving these young people a good start in life, having regard to the difficulties with which they are faced?

Mr. Marsh

I accept the point made by the right hon. Gentleman. The Ministry is very much aware of the problem. Two factors are involved. Very frequently immigrant young people have different standards of education or possess language difficulties which lead to situations which they sometimes subsequently mistake for discrimination. However, earlier this month a spot check of four youth employment offices in areas with a high proportion of coloured immigrants showed that of 19 immigrant boys and 21 immigrant girls known to have left school at Easter only four boys and three girls were unemployed by the beginning of June. One of these had only left school on 28th May and one was known to be ill. The other five failed to respond to invitations to call at the youth employment office. Of the 33 young people placed by the four offices concerned, all except three had been placed in jobs which offered training or prospects of advancement.

10. Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will initiate consultations to secure relaxation of age limits for apprenticeships for young immigrants whose schooling may have started later than usual.

Mr. Marsh

We are continually urging industries to abolish rigid age limits for entry to apprenticeship and I am glad to see that a number have amended their schemes to make better provision for boys who have stayed on at school. Changes in this direction will apply to all young people whose schooling may have been delayed.

11. Mr. Gurden

asked the Minister of Labour what is to be his future policy with regard to the application of conditions to vouchers restricting entry to areas already overcrowded with immigrants.

Mr. Thornton

Under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962, voucher holders may not be subjected to conditions on admission.

Mr. Gurden

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that every voucher issued means aggravation of the problem in already overcrowded immigrant areas? Does not he agree that it would be better if these immigrants could be dispersed? Is it true that no more category C vouchers are to be issued?

Mr. Thornton

No category C vouchers have been issued for some months now. The issue of vouchers according to areas where there are low concentrations of immigrants would, of course, raise difficulties. Whilst I have some sympathy with the point raised by the hon. Gentleman, we cannot attach conditions to the issue of these vouchers and there is nothing to prevent a person with a voucher going to a low concentration area and then moving away to his friends in high concentration areas.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Could not the hon. Gentleman at least note this problem when considering any revising legislation?

Mr. Thornton

We have certainly noted the problem, but I will draw the attention of my right hon. Friend to what the right hon. Gentleman has said.

Mr. Ogden

Is my hon. Friend aware that if the ability to travel to Birmingham, Selly Oak or Sutton Coldfield were to depend on the colour of one's skin, the ability of the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd) to return there would be in some danger?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, while this Question is couched in a form which enables him to refer to legislative difficulty, it is easy to cut down drastically on the issue of A and B vouchers? Is not that the simple remedy to the problem? Can we have a statement on this matter at a fairly early date?

Mr. Thornton

That raises another question. I believe that the right hon. Gentleman has a Question on the Order Paper later which is more applicable to that supplementary question.

22. Mr. Thorneycroft

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make a statement on his policy with regard to the issue of A and B vouchers for immigrants.

Mr. Thornton

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the right hon. Member on 20th May by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that there is growing anxiety at the dilatory way in which the Government are handling this matter and that we are awaiting a statement from them as to their policy about the issue of A and B vouchers? All that we have had so far are statements by the Economic Secretary complaining of the shortage of immigrants. Will the hon. Gentleman state when he will be in a position to say whether there will be a drastic reduction in the issue of A and B vouchers?

Mr. Thornton

On 20th May, in reply to a Question by the right hon. Member, my right hon. and learned Friend stated that the Government had postponed further consideration of the voucher scheme until after they had had the report of the mission, under the leadership of Lord Mountbatten, which was discussing with a number of Commonwealth Governments means of regulating the flow of Commonwealth immigrants to this country. As Lord Mountbatten's mission returned to this country only two days ago, it is certainly not reasonable to expect any declaration of policy from me today.

Mr. Thorneycroft

May we have an indication of when a statement will be made? There have been widespread reports in the Press of Cabinet discussions and a great deal has been leaked out about the views of various Ministers. When will the House of Commons be informed on the matter?

Mr. Thornton

The report will be made as soon as possible.