§ 15. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the trend in the employment situation during the past year for school leavers and young people in the Portsmouth area, with particular reference to the number of job vacancies as compared to the number of job applicants.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithOn 12th July, 1971, there were 112 young people, including 22 school leavers, registered as unemployed, and 264 unfilled notified vacancies. In July, 1970, the comparative figures were 109, including seven school leavers unemployed and 482 unfilled vacancies.
§ Mr. JuddNo one suggests that the employment problems in the South-East Region are anything like as agonising as those in other parts of the country, but is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there is severe concern among those responsible for the youth employment services in the South-East—especially in places like Portsmouth—about the types of job available and the types of young people needing jobs? Can he assure the House that he realises that this problem affects the whole country and is so serious that it demands radical action by himself and his colleagues in the Government?
§ Mr. SmithIt is serious, and action is being taken, as my right hon. Friend has reminded the House. But in the hon. Member's area we do not expect that the rate of absorption—although it is rather slow—will present too great a difficulty; in fact, most school leavers will have found employment by the end of the year. I am encouraged to learn that 770 apprentice recruiting in the naval dockyard is at a higher level now than it was last year.