HC Deb 13 December 1977 vol 941 cc245-8
1. Mr. Tim Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has received from the European Commission relating to youth unemployment.

The Under-Secretary of State for Employment (Mr. John Grant)

Preliminary proposals were contained in the Commission communication on youth employment which has been deposited in Parliament. The Commission has been asked by the Council of Ministers to produce a firm proposal for a new category of aid under the Social Fund which will promote employment, especially of young workers.

Mr. Smith

What is the Government's view of the Commission recommendation that young people who at present are at work but are threatened with unemployment should be given leave of absence to undertake some kind of vocational preparation?

Mr. Grant

As I said, these are preliminary proposals. We shall have to look very carefully at the Commission's proposals when they come back in a more substantive form. I do not think that I can answer the hon. Gentleman by saying more than that at this stage.

Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

Will the Minister accept that, although youth unemployment is a desperately sad problem, recent research shows that it is men in middle life with two or more children who are not only unemployed more often but unemployed for a longer period and have infinitely less chance of eventually getting a job, and that this aspect of affairs must never be neglected for any other?

Mr. Grant

The hon. Lady has touched on another very important issue. I do not think anybody should undermine what she has said. But obviously the Question deals specifically with youth employment. This is a crucial issue throughout the Community and one on which I think the whole House wishes to see firm action taken.

Mr. Madel

What initiatives is the Minister taking to promote structural changes in the EEC such as a shorter working week or earlier retirement? Does he agree that, if we are to help young people, it cannot be done by one country on its own because of the competitive implications?

Mr. Grant

I agree with what the hon. Gentleman said. The possibility of a shorter working week, earlier retirement, and so on is, of course, under review by the Community as a whole as a consequence of the tripartite conference of Governments, trade unions and employers. One of the remits that flowed from that conference was to study this particular issue, and we shall be receiving a report on that.

11. Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received about the problem of youth unemployment.

Mr. John Grant

The Government's concern with the level of youth unemployment is shared by many sections of the community, and my right hon. Friend frequently receives representations from individuals and organisations, including trade unions, employers' associations and youth organisations.

Mrs. Bain

Is the Minister aware that on 10th November in Scotland alone 9,435 youngsters had had no employment since leaving school? In view of this, can he give the House some information on the youth opportunities scheme, which has been spoken about but on which very little information has been given to the House? What funds have been allocated to the scheme, and when can youngsters expect to benefit from it.

Mr. Grant

I appreciate what the hon. Lady says about the gravity of the situation in Scotland, but the youth opportunities programme is weighted to take particular account of the levels of unemployment in an area. This should be of particular benefit to Scotland and to the area the hon. Member represents.

Mr. Craigen

In view of the figures that the Secretary of State gave us earlier about the increasing size of the working population, may I ask what consideration the Department of Employment has given to the report by the Equal Opportunities Commission on retirement ages, and in particular to lowering the age at which men retire, so that we might make additional employment available to young people?

Mr. Grant

My hon. Friend will be aware of the job release scheme which has some bearing on the point he raises. Active consideration is now being given to the very subjects he has mentioned.

Mr. Peter Walker

Is the Minister aware that, whereas youth unemployment generally under this Government has more than doubled, for young West Indians it has gone up almost sixfold? Would he agree that tackling that problem would do more to deal with the problems of the National Front than a propaganda television programme?

Mr. Grant

I would not agree that it will do more to tackle the problem. The way to deal with the National Front has been demonstrated very effectively in the past week. I certainly would not detract from that approach. Having said that, of course the right hon. Gentleman is correct in the difficulty he highlights. We are taking particular action to deal with the problem, not least through the inner cities programme.