§ 25. Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for reducing youth unemployment in Wales.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe Government's policies are designed to secure economic growth, and will thus provide increased employment opportunities for young people.
§ Mr. KinnockDoes not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that his reply does not really mean a thing? Is he not aware that in the last 12 months youth unemployment in Monmouthshire, the one county nearest to England and to the growth points of the British economy, has gone up by 30 per cent., that youth employment opportunities have gone down by 60 per cent., and that none of the platitudes he has uttered 22 means a thing to the young unemployed of Wales?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI agree that the level of youth unemployment in Wales is far too high, and is a matter of great concern to everyone. I am happy to say that there are signs of improvement; that in May and June unemployment among young people fell by 643 and that in the same period the number of unfilled vacancies increased by 138. Vacancies have been increasing, though I agree not fast enough, since last March.