HC Deb 15 July 1971 vol 821 cc715-8
06. Mr. Carter

asked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received on the Government's handling of economic affairs.

The Prime Minister

Detailed figures are not available, although a large number deal with economic issues. Many of my correspondents recognise that the Government are determined to overcome inflation and the other economic problems which we inherited, and congratulate us on the progress which we have so far made.

Mr. Carter

May I ask the Prime Minister what replies he sends to those letters addressed to him on the sad, pathetic subject of unemployment among school leavers? Does he offer them the only solution which he has offered to me on this subject, a rather pathetic suggestion that if they cannot find jobs they should stay on at school?

The Prime Minister

I replied at great length and in great detail to the letter which the hon. Gentleman sent to me. I understand that he published it without reference, but he is entitled to do that. I do not propose to quote the letter of appreciation and thanks which he sent back to me for my reply. What I pointed out to him, because it was a matter raised in his letter, was that larger numbers of children were staying at school for further education. This has been going on for many years and is a development to be welcomed.

Mr. Harold Wilson

The right hon. Gentleman has been asked a number of times about various aspects of the unemployment which he was going to reduce, particularly about white-collar unemployment, which he said that he regarded seriously but about which he has said nothing in the House since. We all welcome any cases of children staying longer at school. But will he tell us what the prospects are for school leavers getting jobs this year compared with previous years? Will he not rely—and from what he said I hope that he will not want to rely—on children who want jobs, but cannot find them, going back to school? Will he tell us what the prospects are and give his mind to this important and serious problem?

The Prime Minister

Yes. I am not saying that children should stay at school because they cannot get jobs. I am saying that in recent years there has been a steady increase in the number of children staying longer at school. I should have thought that hon. Members on both sides would welcome that, because of the additional education which they get.

As to the prospects for those who wish to leave school and to secure jobs, I believe that many of the fears and statements have been exaggerated, judging from what was happening at Easter when the great majority of school leavers were able to get jobs within a comparatively short time. Naturally we cannot forecast exactly what will happen to those leaving school this month, but I believe that many of the fears are exaggerated.

Mr. Heffer

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his reply today and previous replies show a totally complacent attitude about this question? If he came to areas like Liverpool and the North-East Coast he would find youths who left school on the last school-leaving occasion and who have never yet had employment. The youngsters leaving school now face the prospect of there being no openings for them at all.

Reverting to the point about sailing, is the Prime Minister aware that people in this country believe that while he is sailing around the coast he is not concerned with rising unemployment, rising prices and attacks on the social services, and that he does not care about their problems?

The Prime Minister

I do not propose to comment on the hon. Member's cheap, petty-minded jibes. I am quite capable of doing my job as Prime Minister and at the same time taking the necessary recreation, like any other sensible person in this country. I intend to go on doing so, whatever jibes the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends may make.

Mr. Harold Wilson

When the right hon. Gentleman has got over his little fit of petulance, will he address himself to the serious question put to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer)? He will no doubt have seen some of the statements published about juvenile school leavers and employment prospects in some areas of this country. He will have seen, because it was published nationally, the position of Kirby on Merseyside where, each year, a committee representing the four comprehensive schools which account for the whole of the secondary education there puts out its estimate of the number of school leavers who will get jobs, apart from those who want to stay on at school, about which we all agree with the right hon. Gentleman. Having studied the figures, will he tell us whether he is so complacent as he sounds about the number of jobs available for school leavers this year?

The Prime Minister

I am in no way complacent about it. Nor is any member of the Government. When it comes to a question of cheap, petty jibes, one expects the right hon. Gentleman to join in.

Mr. Harold Wilson

I have made no remarks about the right hon. Gentleman's hobbies. I will choose my own time to describe them. [Interruption.] If the House wants a part-time Prime Minister, it can have him. I asked the right hon. Gentleman about juvenile employment. He replied in his usual petulant manner when replying to my hon. Friend. Will he now answer the question about juvenile employment?

The Prime Minister

I have told the right hon. Gentleman that there is no complacency whatever in this Administration about that question.

Hon. Members

Answer.

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is time that we got back on to the fairway.