§ 34. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many young people under the age of 21 years are unemployed on Tyneside and Northumberland, respectively, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. FernyhoughSeparate figures for persons under 21 are not available. On 9th September, 1968, 2,084 young people under the age of 18 were registered as unemployed on Tyneside and 1,833 in Northumberland.
§ Dame Irene WardAs there have been repeated occasions when there have been far too many unemployed young people on Tyneside and in Northumberland, will the hon. Gentleman please give an assurance that plans in future will be made well in advance? Will he give an assurance that there is a plan, and will he tell us what the plan is.
§ Mr. FernyhoughThe hon. Lady is well aware that last year, for instance, the North received between one-fifth and one-sixth of the total investment programme. The hon. Lady is aware that three times as many industrial development certificates were received as should have been received in relation to the insured employees. The hon. Lady knows full well what we are trying to do. I hope that the new industries which are now being set up in the North-East will provide the job opportunities for young people about which she is as concerned as I am.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWill my hon. Friend give an indication of the length of time for which some young people have been out of work, since there is anxiety on Tyneside about this problem?
§ Mr. FernyhoughI am sorry, I cannot give that information without notice, but I will write to my hon. Friend.