HC Deb 29 July 1971 vol 822 cc771-3
19. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest figure for young people leaving school and registering as unemployed in the borough of Derby.

Mr. Dudley Smith

At 12th July the provisional number of school leavers registered at the Derby Careers Office was 61.

Mr. Whitehead

Is the Minister aware that the number of juveniles unemployed in the Derby area has increased significantly over the last year, and what possible message of hope has he for the young people in my constituency who are coming on to the labour market at a time when unemployment has increased by 65 per cent. in the last year and when the only sign of the Government's dynamic economic policy has been the arrival of the receiver on the doorstep?

Mr. Smith

The message of hope I have for the hon. Member's constituents is that the careers officers locally are not unduly worried about the position there. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] A preliminary assessment of the school leaver position suggests that some 2,000 school leavers will be on the market and that about 300 of them will not have jobs, but it is hoped that by the end of September there will be only 150 of them who will still be a problem. I do not think that that is too bad.

Mr. Urwin

Is the Minister aware that the concern of my two hon. Friends, the hon. Members for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) and Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) in asking Questions 15 and 19 is justified, and that the figures he has given starkly reveal the vivid comparison between different areas, and is he further aware that the situation which exists in the Northern Region, in my constituency and every other, now demands a great deal more urgent action?

Mr. Smith

Yes, I am aware, of course, that there are discrepancies between areas, and that is a point to which my right hon. Friend has drawn attention in Answers to Questions today, and why we have taken action to expand training, and why the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for the Environment have announced new measures which will expand the economy and improve the employment situation.