HC Deb 21 February 1973 vol 851 cc446-7
5. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is now taking to assist in creating job opportunities for school leavers in Scotland.

Mr. Younger

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 31st January to a similar question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).—[Vol. 849, c. 1331–33.]

Mr. Eadie

That answer smacks of complacency, because the Under-Secretary must know that 9,692 young people under the age of 18 are unemployed in Scotland. Will he tell us how many of them are male and how many female? As there is a great priority here, because the hopes and expectations of young people have been dashed, we are entitled to expect the Government to treat the matter with priority.

Mr. Younger

This is indeed a serious and worrying problem. The hon. Gentleman will no doubt be as glad as I am that the figure he quoted of 9,692 compares with the figure of 12,438 at the same time last year. I am determined that anything that can be done to reduce this serious problem shall be done. We have taken massive steps to get expansion going in the economy, to achieve the best outlook there can be for young people.