§ 30. Mr. Will Owenasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many school-leavers are at present signing for employment at the employment exchanges in Ashington and Morpeth in the county of Northumberland; and what action is being taken to assist them.
§ Mr. FernyhoughOn 14th October, 1968, 43 school-leavers were registered as unemployed at Ashington and 7 at Morpeth. Youth employment officers are making every effort to help these young persons find employment.
§ Mr. OwenI hope that my hon. Friend will not be too complacent about the growth of unemployment among school-leavers. Is he aware that with the decline in the mining industry recruitment in that field is now limited? Would he consider the establishment of an East Northumberland Training Centre so that these young people may have some assurance of employment as new industry unfolds?
§ Mr. FernyhoughI cannot give my hon. Friend a reply to the last part of his supplementary question today, but we will write to him. On the first part, the number of school-leavers has substantially dropped since August, when the figure was 101 in Ashington and 31 in Morpeth. My hon. Friend can be assured that, knowing the effect of unemployment on young people, my officers and I will do all we can to speed up the provision of employment for them.