HC Deb 20 July 1976 vol 915 cc1510-1
14. Mr. Walter Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a special appeal to industry to recruit above its normal establishment of school leavers in an endeavour to reduce the high level of unemployment among this group.

Mr. Booth

The Government's measures to help unemployed school leavers already draw to a considerable extent on the co-operation of employers. But I shall bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

Mr. Johnson

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is degrading, depressing and soul-destroying for youngsters who leave school in the expectation of starting work to finish up on the dole? Will not this have a damaging effect upon them throughout the whole of their working life? Will the Minister please make a special appeal to industrialists to take more than their normal establishment of school leavers to help to alleviate this problem?

Mr. Booth

I agree with all my hon. Friend says about the experience of young people leaving school and finding that no jobs are available. I assure him that in many of the measures we have introduced we have paid particular attention to the requirements of the unemployed school leavers—in the recruitment subsidy scheme, strengthening the careers service, the job creation programme, the community industry scheme and additional training measures. I am considering initiatives involving to a greater extent than ever before the support of private employer's and industrialists generally in alleviating the problem of the unemployed school leaver.

Mr. Bulmer

Will the Secretary of State tell the House why he continues to resist the proposal that companies prepared to train school leavers in skills vital to the country should be allowed to recover in full the cost of training?

Mr. Booth

At present the Training Services Agency funds a considerable amount of training in employers' premises. But it is not possible for the Training Services Agency under the present arrangements to guarantee to cover every vacant place that an employer can provide for training. We are seeking to construct a scheme that will provide opportunities for unemployed school leavers on a much wider basis than the availability of craft training places.