HC Deb 31 July 1972 vol 842 cc8-10
8. Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh children left school at the end of the summer term, 1972.

10. Mr. Probert

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers there are in Wales at the end of this summer term; and how many of them are expected to register for employment.

11. Mr. Rowlands

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate his Department has made of the future employment prospects of summer school leavers in Wales.

Mr. Peter Thomas

Precise details of the numbers of summer school leavers are not yet available. It is estimated that in all about 27,000 pupils will have left school for employment during the past academic year. The employment prospects for school leavers are improving in line with the general employment situation.

Mr. John

The Secretary of State must be the only example of animal which has a summer hibernation. Has not he read the unemployment figures for the last month? Does he not realise that unemployment in Wales is now running at over 50,000 and that last month it increased sharply? Does he not realise that the lot of the majority of school leavers this term will be to join the unemployment queues?

Mr. Thomas

Last month's unemployment figures had special factors which somewhat distorted the situation. The evidence of the past six months is that employment opportunities for young people are improving in Wales. More young people entered employment in Wales in the first six months of the present year than in the corresponding period last year, and more aprenticeships have been taken up in the first six months of this year.

Mr. Probert

In view of the recent unemployment figures in my constituency, may I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether he is aware that he is in a minority of one and that parents in my constituency are in a state of desperation, wondering what will happen to their sons and daughters in the months ahead? Does he not agree that nothing is more damaging to the morale of young people than to think that they are not wanted by society? Will he therefore persuade his right hon. and hon. Friends to bring in emergency measures, if such measures are needed, in training and so on to meet the problems which will certainly be facing these youngsters in the months ahead?

Mr. Thomas

I agree with the hon. Gentleman that we are all concerned about employment prospects for young people. At this time of the year one always gets additions of school leavers to the employment register which somewhat distorts the figures. The employment prospects for young people are very much tied up with employment prospects generally. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the measures which have been taken recently and which should have the effect, and show signs of having the effect, of stimulating the economy in Wales.

Mr. Rowlands

As it is at least 37 years since the right hon. and learned Gentleman was of school-leaving age, perhaps he has forgotten what it feels like to leave school at the age of 15 and walk into the dole queue. Does he realise that we have the best educated dole queue that Britain has ever known and that unemployment not only among school leavers aged 15 but among graduates is at the highest level ever known? Will he say what are the distorting factors of last month's figures? Generally speaking, the school leavers have not come on to the employment exchange lists. This month we shall see this expansion. Will he say where he gets his optimism from? We have not seen any.

Mr. Thomas

My answer to the Question was that precise details could not be given. I gave an estimate of the number of pupils who would have left school for employment during the past academic year. The hon. Gentleman should pay attention to what I said about the evidence of the past six months.