HC Deb 20 February 1967 vol 741 cc1125-6
10. Mr. Scott

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now make a statement on the future of the Youth Employment Service.

Mr. Gunter

No, Sir. As I have told the hon. Member, I first wish to consult the interested local authority associations and my National Youth Employment Council.

Mr. Scott

Is not the Minister aware that in October he promised a statement on this matter before Christmas? Is it not time that the House of Commons had a chance to discuss the Government's action—or, rather, non-action—on this Report?

Mr. Gunter

The hon. Gentleman has already been supplied with a progress report. If he suggests by his Question that nothing has been done since my Statement in December, 1965, he knows that this is quite untrue, and that a tremendous amount has been done. The consultations with local authorities and other interested bodies in what we hope will emerge as a fundamental change take many months; I am sorry to say it.

Mr. Crawshaw

Would my right hon. Friend agree that an employment officer has little opportunity of doing his job properly when he sees school-leavers only shortly before they leave? Has he any plans for getting employment officers allocated to particular schools or groups of schools, so that they can get to know the people whom they are trying to place in employment?

Mr. Gunter

Yes. This is one of the subjects among the matters for consultation of which I have spoken. With all hon. Members, I hope that we can arrive at some early conclusions on this matter.