§ 14. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many July school leavers remain unemployed in the South-West Durham Employment Ex-change areas.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithI am glad to say that, of the estimated 1,600 young people who left school at the end of the summer term, 1,489 had found jobs by 11th October. This leaves 111 still registered as unemployed.
§ Mr. BoydenDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that the position is still very unsatisfactory? Will he ask the Secretary of State to increase the amount of training facilities and training grants immediately, and also to second from his Department officers to make better contacts with youth employment officers and employers so that the maximum number of jobs and training facilities can be found for these young people?
§ Mr. SmithAs the hon. Gentleman knows, we have appointed extra career officers and the whole question of training is kept under constant review. Training has been increased. But I appreciate that the position is still not satisfactory in the hon. Member's area. The problem is not so much that of the school leaver as such as that of the less-well-qualified young person who has had two or three jobs but is now entering on a period of longer unemployment. That is the problem with which we have to get to grips.