HC Deb 10 July 1969 vol 786 cc1558-9
15 and 16. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what progress has been made in plans to change the law controlling work experience for school children;

(2) when she will give permission to the children of Bideford to take part in work experience.

Mr. Fernyhough

I am not yet in a position to add to the replies given on 22nd May and 12th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Gwilym Roberts).—[Vol. 784, c. 629–30 and 1644–5.]

Mr. Mills

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that work experience could be a real step forward in interesting young people to go into industry and could be of particular value in areas to which new industry is brought but in which the local people have no actual experience of industry? Will not he encourage it and ensure that the law is changed so that advantage can be taken of this vital step forward?

Mr. Fernyhough

I know the interest taken in this matter particularly in the hon. Gentleman's constituency because I know something of the report by the sub-committee of the Bideford Youth Employment Committee. It will need new legislation. We are aware of what the Newsom Committee had to say on the matter, and we shall be talking about whether any change can be made with all the interested parties, which include not only employers and trade unions but the local authorities.

Mr. Fred Evans

Will my hon. Friend accept that the weight of feeling in the teaching profession is growing in favour of this kind of experience, and will he further accept that many in the teaching profession regard it as unrealistic to raise the school-leaving age to 16 and not have as a component of the course between 15 and 16 just such training for adult life?

Mr. Fernyhough

I appreciate that there is growing interest and concern. It will be much easier to persuade those who are now opposed to this principle to look at it afresh once we guarantee that every child receives a classroom education until he is at least 15, and the year from 15 to 16 can then be a period when we try to introduce this reform.