HC Deb 21 March 1972 vol 833 cc1337-8
Q4. Mr. Duffy

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Employment at Dover on 4th March on the pattern of unemployment represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend explained how the high level of wage inflation had led employers to cut costs and to reduce their labour force.

Mr. Duffy

Given that the Secretary of State found no particular distortion in the underlying pattern, does not the Prime Minister think that there is a danger of school leavers and other young people, of whom there were nearly 5,000 in York- shire and Humberside last month alone, being overwhelmed? Will he not therefore initiate more grants to industry for training schemes and to education authorities for career teaching? Does he think that it is sufficient that only 12 out of Sheffield's 32 comprehensive schools should be equipped with a careers room?

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has recently announced a massive plan for the increase in training. Although of course it will take time for that gradually to come into effect, it will meet many of the points which the hon. Gentleman has raised.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the difference between the policies expressed by the Secretary of State and those followed by the party opposite is that, whereas we are deliberately trying to reduce unemployment, they deliberately tried to increase it?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.